Twelvetrees, Helen (1908–1958)

views updated

Twelvetrees, Helen (1908–1958)

American actress. Born Helen Marie Jurgens, Dec 25, 1908 (some sources cite 1907), in Brooklyn, New York; died of a drug overdose on Feb 13, 1958, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; dau. of William Jurgens (in advertising) and Helen (Kelly) Jurgens; trained at American Academy of Dramatic Arts; m. Clark Twelvetrees (actor), 1927 (div. 1931); m. Frank Woody (realtor), 1931 (div. 1936); m. Conrad Payne (Air Force officer), c. 1946; children: (2nd m.) Jack Bryan (b. 1932).

Made NY debut as Sondra in an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy; made 3 undistinguished films for Fox before signing with Pathé, where her film career began to flourish with Her Man (1930), a box-office hit, and Millie (1931); starred opposite Spencer Tracy in Now I'll Tell (1934); went to Australia (1936), where her role in Thoroughbred made her the 1st American star of the "talkies" to film there; filmed last 2 pictures with Paramount (1939), then returned to the stage, where over the years she appeared in several plays, including Arsenic and Old Lace, A Streetcar Named Desire and The Man Who Came to Dinner.

See also Women in World History.