Clarice Vance - Later Life

Later Life

Vance's life after 1923 is shrouded in mystery. In the early 20's she appeared briefly in movies in character parts and slid into total oblivion, but according to the 1935 California voters registration she was living in San Francisco, listing her profession as 'dramatic coach' and residing at 1043 Bush St.. From 1944-1951, the once brilliant and popular comedienne lived in a rooming house at 1535 Pine Street in San Francisco. From 1951 until her death in 1961 she was a patient at Napa State Mental Hospital in Napa, California and died there at 91 years of age knowing only her name and that she was "an actress". She died friendless, penniless and unknown. She is buried as "31" in the indigent section of St. Helena Cemetery in Napa Valley.

In August 2010, Clarice Vance biographer, Sterling Morris had a phone interview with a woman who actually knew Clarice Vance. Phyllis McCoy of Santa Clara, California was Clarice Vance's young apartment neighbor in the mid-40's. They became good friends. Today Ms. McCoy's sharp memory recalls a woman, witty, intelligent and kind with a wonderful speaking voice. She remembered Clarice as elderly but sturdy and tall with a "regal carriage", careful with her appearance and very private, "seemed to have few if any visitors outside of immediate neighbors." Ms. McCoy had heard that Clarice Vance had once been an entertainer and had found a couple of her recordings, finally asking her to autograph the labels, but "Clarice demurred and mumbled something about it 'all being in the past', and immeditately changed the subject". She never did sign the records or evidence any interest in revisiting or sharing any of her theatrical memories.