Aleta Freel (June 14, 1907 – December 7, 1935) was an American stage actress.
Early life
Freel was born Aleta Freile in
, the daughter of physician Dr. William Freile
and the former Minnie Uchtman.
She was educated at the Bergen School for Girls in Jersey City. She graduated from
Smith College
Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smit ...
in 1928.
Career
She played leading roles in several eastern stock companies, including the University Players of Old Silver Beach and the Palm Beach Players. Among Freel's stage performances was a role in the play ''Double Door'', which was performed at the
Ritz Theater in New York City in Fall 1933. Her Broadway credits include ''Louder, Please'' (1931) and ''Three Times the Hour'' (1931).
Personal life
Freel was married to Hollywood actor
Ross Alexander
Ross Alexander (born Alexander Ross Smith, Jr.; July 27, 1907 – January 2, 1937) was an American stage and film actor.
Early years
Alexander was born Alexander Ross Smith. Jr. in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Maud Adelle (nee Cohen) and Al ...
following a backstage romance. Alexander was originally from Brooklyn, and began his career in New York. He was cast in many Broadway productions, one of which was ''The Ladder''.
Death
Freel grew depressed as her career failed to take hold and her marriage to Ross Alexander grew strained. On December 6, 1935, she took a .22 rifle from a gun rack in her home and shot herself through the temple. Freel died early the following morning at Emergency Hospital in Los Angeles. She was 28 years of age. Her husband confided to police that he and Freel had a "small spat" during the evening. She was disappointed about some screen tests on which she had high hopes, but which were unsuccessful.
[
According to ]Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in Hollywood. On screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image.
Bo ...
, who was best man at Freel's wedding, she took her life after confirming that Alexander had been having affairs with other women and not because of her career troubles.
On December 14, 1935, in Sacramento, California, the state of California opened an investigation into the "strange death" of Aleta Freel. The inquiry was requested by Harold G. Hoffman
Harold Giles Hoffman (February 7, 1896 – June 4, 1954) was an American businessman and Republican Party politician who served as the 41st Governor of New Jersey from 1935 to 1938. His time in office was marked by controversy over his support ...
, governor of New Jersey. Friends and relatives of the actress asked Hoffman and Governor Merriam of California for an exhaustive probe. Freel's father William was quoted as saying that, at the time of his daughter's death, he was not sure she took her life.
Nine months later, Alexander married actress Anne Nagel
Anne Nagel (born Anna Marie Dolan; September 29, 1915 – July 6, 1966) was an American actress. She played in adventures, mysteries, and comedies for 25 years. She also appeared in television series in the 1950s. One book described her as "one ...
. However, three months later, 13 months after Freel's suicide, he shot and killed himself with a .22 calibre pistol.
Footnotes
References
* ''Appleton, Wisconsin Post-Crescent,'' "Anne Nagel's Death Revives Old Mystery", Monday, August 29, 1966, Page A11.
* ''Charleston, West Virginia Gazette'', "Probe of Girl's Death Is Ordered", Sunday, December 15, 1935, Page 19.
* ''The New York Times'', "Theatrical Notes", September 21, 1933, Page 24.
* ''New York Times'', "Aleta Freel Ends Life In Hollywood", December 8, 1935, Page 44.
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Freel, Aleta
1907 births
1935 suicides
1935 deaths
Actresses from Jersey City, New Jersey
Smith College alumni
American stage actresses
Suicides by firearm in California
20th-century American actresses