Evelyn Venable was an American actress born on October 18, 1913, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and she passed away on November 15, 1993, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She was known for her ethereal beauty and delicate nature, which made her a standout in the 1930s and 1940s.

Evelyn Venable was the only child of Emerson Venable and Dolores Venable (née Compton), and both her father and grandfather were writers and teachers. She graduated from Walnut Hills High School, where she performed in several plays, including Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet" and Rosalind in "As You Like It".

She initially attended Vassar College but left after a year to study at the University of Cincinnati. She later joined Walter Hampden's touring company, where she performed in productions such as "Cyrano de Bergerac" and "Hamlet".

Her talent caught the attention of film scouts, and she made her film debut with "Cradle Song" in 1933. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures, which was unique in that she did not have to cut her hair or pose for leg art.

Her most notable role was as Grazia in the 1934 film "Death Takes a Holiday," which is often considered her best performance. She also appeared in films such as "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," "David Harum," and "Alice Adams," where she played sensitive and soft-spoken leads or second leads. Despite her talent, she was often relegated to working at "poverty-row" studios.

In 1934, Evelyn Venable met cinematographer Hal Mohr on the set of the Will Rogers film "David Harum," and they married later that year. They had two daughters, Dolores and Rosalia, and were vegetarians. She provided the voice of the Blue Fairy in the 1940 Disney animated classic "Pinocchio," which became one of her most memorable contributions to film.

Evelyn Venable retired from acting in 1943 and returned to UCLA to study Greek and Latin, eventually earning a Master's degree. She joined the UCLA faculty as a drama instructor and stayed there contentedly for decades, teaching ancient Greek and Latin and organizing the production of Greek plays within the Classics department.

For her work in films, Evelyn Venable has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street.