Matinee Classics - Helen Hayes Biography & Filmography

Helen Hayes ACTOR

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HELEN HAYES BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Helen Hayes was born on October 10th, 1900 in Washington in the District of Columbia with the birth name Helen Hayes Brown. She was born to parents, Francis van Arnum Brown and Catherine Estelle Hayes, an aspiring actress. Her career began as a child actress with her stage debut at the age of five singing at the Washington Belasco Theatre. She starred in her first short film at the age of ten in, "Jean and the Calico Doll".

Her career spanned over eighty years earning her the title, "The First Lady of the American Theater". By the age of twenty she had made quite a name for herself as a stage actress and even began appearing in a number of silent films. In 1931 she signed a contract with MGM and starred in such features as, "Arrowsmith" (1931), "A Farewell to Arms" (1932) and "The Sin of Madelon Claudet" (1931), for which she won an Oscar for Best Actress.

Along with working as a film actress she returned to her love of stage performing and appeared in a production of, "Victoria Regina" which ran for three years. In the mid 50's, Hayes returned back to Hollywood appearing on such films as, "My Son John" (1952), "Anastasia" (1956) and a number of Disney films such as, "Herbie Rides Again" (1974), "One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing" (1975) and "Candleshoe" (1977).

In 1971, Hayes retired from stage acting but continued to appear in a number of films as well as television series. Her final role was he television movie, "Murder With Mirrors" (1985).

Throughout her career in the industry she received a Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in the film, "Airport" (1970) and won three Tony Awards, two Best Actress Dramatic Awards and was also nominated as Best Actress Dramatic in 1970 for her role in, "Harvey". Hayes was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Radio and Motion Pictures. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

In addition to working as an actress, Hayes founded the national Wildflower Research Center in Austin, Texas which protects and preserves native plants and landscapes in North America. She spent the remaining years of her life writing and raising money for organizations that help fight asthma as she too suffered from the disease.

Helen married only once to Charles MacArthur in 1928 and they had two children and remained married until he passed away on April 21st, 1956. Her son, James MacArthur was adopted and went on to pursue a career in the industry and became most well known for his starring role on Hawaii Five-O and her daughter, Mary who was also an aspiring actress, sadly, passed away at the age of nineteen from Polio. She did not re-marry again and she continued working in the industry until she passed away on March 17th, 1993 in Nyack, New York after suffering from congestive heart failure. Her remains are interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack, New York.