Claudia Dell was born Claudia Dell Smith on January 10, 1910 in San Antonio, Texas. She went to school there and also in Mexico City, Mexico. She was a showgirl, appearing in 3 Broadway productions, including the Ziegfield Follies of 1927. She was an understudy to Irene Delroy. She was said to be visiting her parents in Hollywood when she made her screen debut. Legend has it that Harry Cohn was so taken by her beauty that the Columbia Pictures' logo was designed in her image. She married Edwin Silton, an agent, in 1934. She was later a receptionist in a beauty salon.