Valli Valli

Biography

The woman the world would know as Valli Valli entered life as Marguerite Alice Knust on February 11, 1889 (or possibly 1882) in Berlin. Raised within a notable British household and polished by an education in Paris and London, she was only twelve when she stepped onto the London stage in 'Gentle Ivy.' This debut sparked a swift ascent, taking her to Berlin for the musical comedy 'Morocco Bound' and establishing her as a European sensation. Despite her fame in lighthearted fare, her true artistic yearning was far more somber: 'I don't care at all for laughter,' she admitted. 'My ambition is to develop the power to make people cry.' In 1905, she set her sights on America, gracing Broadway in 'Veronique' and following it with roles in 'Kittey Grey' and 'The Dollar Princess' before embarking on a nationwide vaudeville tour. Her foray into film began in 1915 with 'The High Road,' leading to a contract with B.A. Rolfe Photoplays for 'The Woman Pays' and 'Her Debt of Honor.' However, the transition to the screen was short-lived, and her contract was eventually dropped. After marrying music-publishing executive Louis Dreyfuss in October 1917, she made one last Broadway appearance in 1919’s 'Miss Millions' before returning to England in 1920. There, she remained a beloved figure of the stage—as did her sisters, Ida and Lulu. Her career was cut short by a struggle with consumption during the summer of 1927. Valli Valli died at her Hampstead home on November 4, 1927, at age 38; her husband, racing to return from a trip, arrived just minutes too late to say goodbye. She rests at Hampstead Cemetery.