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Helen Hayes Biography (1900-1956)

Full name, Helen Hayes Brown; born October 10, 1900, in Washington, DC; diedof heart failure, March 17, 1993, in Nyack, NY; daughter of Francis van Arnum(a sales representative) and Catherine Estelle (Hayes) Brown; married Charles G. MacArthur (a playwright) August 17, 1928 (died April 21, 1956); children: James Gordon (adopted), Mary (deceased). Addresses: Agent: Lucy Kroll, 390 West End Ave., New York, NY 10024.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

actress, producer, writer

Birth Details

October 10, 1900

Washington

Death Details

April 21, 1956

Nyack, New York, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Stage Appearances
• (Stage debut) A Midsummer Night's Dream, Holy Cross Academy, Washington, DC, 1905.
• Prince Charles, A Royal Family, Columbia Players, National Theatre, Washington, DC, 1905.
• The Prince and the Pauper, Columbia Players, National Theatre, 1908.
• Gibson Girl and Nell Brinkley Girl, Jack the Giant Killer, BelascoTheatre, Washington, DC, 1909.
• (Broadway debut) Little Mimi, Old Dutch, Herald Square Theatre, 1909.
• Psyche Finnegan, The Summer Widowers, Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1910.
• Fannie Hicks, The Never Homes, Broadway Theatre, 1911.
• Little Simone, The Prodigal Husband, Empire Theatre, New York City, 1914.
• Margaret Schofield, Penrod, Globe Theatre, New York City, 1918.
• Margaret, Dear Brutus, Empire Theatre, 1918.
• Dorothy Fessenden, On the Hiring Line, National Theatre, 1919.
• Cora Wheeler, Clarence, Hudson Theatre, New York City, 1919.
• Title role, Bab, Park Theatre, New York City, 1920.
• Seeby Olds, The Wren, Gaiety Theatre, New York City, 1921.
• Mary Anne, Golden Days, Gaiety Theatre, 1921.
• Elsie Beebe, To the Ladies, Liberty Theatre, New York City, 1922.
• Mary Sundale, We Moderns, Gaiety Theatre, 1924.
• Constance Neville, She Stoops to Conquer, Empire Theatre, 1924.
• Catherine Westcourt, Dancing Mothers, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1924.
• Dinah Partlett, Quarantine, Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City,1924.
• Cleopatra, Caesar and Cleopatra, Guild Theatre, New York City, 1925.
• Georgia Bissell, Young Blood, Ritz Theatre, New York City, 1925.
• Maggie Wylie, What Every Woman Knows, Bijou Theatre, New York City, 1926.
• Norma Besant, Coquette, Maxine Elliot's Theatre, New York City, 1927.
• Nellie Fitzpatrick, Mr. Gilhooley, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1930.
• Peggy Chalfont, Petticoat Influence, Empire Theatre, 1930.
• Lu, The Good Fairy, Henry Miller's Theatre, 1931.
• Title role, Mary of Scotland (also see below), Theatre Guild, Alvin Theatre, New York City, 1933.
• Title role, Caesar and Cleopatra, County Theatre, Suffern, NY, 1935.
• Title role, Victoria Regina (also see below), Broadhurst Theatre,1935.
• Maggie Wylie, What Every Woman Knows, County Theatre, 1938.
• Portia, The Merchant of Venice, Shubert Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1938.
• Title role, Victoria Regina, Martin Beck Theatre, New York City, 1938.
• Miss Scott, Ladies and Gentlemen, Martin Beck Theatre, 1939.
• Viola, Twelfth Night, Theatre Guild, St. James Theatre, New York City, 1940.
• Madeline Guest, Candle in the Wind, Theatre Guild, Shubert Theatre, New York City, 1941.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet, Henry Miller's Theatre, 1943.
• Mrs. Grey, Alice Sit-by-the-Fire, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA, 1946.
• Addie, Happy Birthday, Broadhurst Theatre, 1946.
• (London debut) Amanda Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, Haymarket Theatre, 1948.
• Mrs. Burnett, Good Housekeeping, Olney Theatre, MD, then FalmouthPlayhouse, Falmouth, MA, 1949.
• Lucy Andree Ransdell, The Wisteria Trees, Martin Beck Theatre, 1950.
• Mrs. Howard V. Larue II, Mrs. McThing, ANTA Theatre, New York City, 1952.
• Maggie Wylie, What Every Woman Knows, Helen Hayes Festival, Falmouth Playhouse, then City Center Theatre, New York City, 1954.
• Lucy Andree Ransdell, The Wisteria Trees, Helen Hayes Festival, Falmouth Playhouse, 1954, then City Center Theatre, 1955.
• Title role, Mary of Scotland, Helen Hayes Festival, Falmouth Playhouse, 1954.
• Mrs. Antrobus, The Skin of Our Teeth, Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, Paris, France, then ANTA Theatre, 1955.
• Mistress of Ceremonies, Lovers, Villains, and Fools, Theatre-de-Lys, New York City, 1956.
• Amanda Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, City Center Theatre, 1956.
• Duchess of Pont-au-Bronc, Time Remembered, Morosco Theatre, New York City, 1957.
• Nora Melody, A Touch of the Poet, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1958.
• Lulu Spencer, An Adventure, Tappan Zee Playhouse, Nyack, NY, 1960.
• Mrs. St. Maugham, The Chalk Garden, Tappan Zee Playhouse, 1960.
• The Cherry Orchard, Royal Poinciana Playhouse, Palm Beach, FL, 1960.
• Mrs. Antrobus, The Skin of Our Teeth, National Theatre, 1961.
• Amanda Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, National Theatre, 1961.
• Shakespeare Revisited: A Program for Two Players (readings and songs), American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, CT, 1962.
• Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Cleveland, and Mrs. Wilson, The White House, Henry Miller's Theatre, 1964.
• Mrs. Candour, The School for Scandal, Association of Producing Artists (APA)/Phoenix Repertory Company, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1966-67.
• Signora Frola, Right You Are If You Think You Are, APA/Phoenix Repertory Company, Lyceum Theatre, 1966-67.
• Mother, We, Comrades Three, APA/Phoenix Repertory Company, LyceumTheatre, 1966-67.
• Mrs. Fisher, The Show-Off, APA/Phoenix Repertory Company, Lyceum Theatre, 1967-68.
• Mrs. Grant, The Front Page, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City, 1969.
• Veta Louise Simmons, Harvey, ANTA Theatre, 1970.
• Mary Tyrone, Long Day's Journey into Night, Hartke Theatre, Catholic University, Washington, DC, 1971.
• Also appeared in Little Lord Fauntleroy and The Prince Chap, both 1909; The Summer Widowers, 1910; A Poor Relation, The NeverHomes, and The Barrier, both 1911; Seven Sisters, 1912; summer appearances with Columbia Players, 1913-16; appeared with Poli Players, Washington, DC, 1915-17; performed with the Helen Hayes Repertory Company as the narrator in Lovers, Villains and Fools, and as Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney in The Circle, both 1964.
• Credits; Major Tours
• The June Bride, U.S. cities, 1912.
• Pollyanna Whittier, Pollyanna, U.S. cities, 1917-18.
• Elsie Beebe, To the Ladies, U.S. cities, 1922-24.
• Norma Besant, Coquette, U.S. cities, 1928-29.
• Title role, Mary of Scotland, U.S. cities, 1934.
• Title role, Victoria Regina, U.S. cities, 1937-38.
• Harriet Beecher Stowe, Harriet, U.S. cities, 1944-45.
• Mrs. Antrobus, The Skin of Our Teeth, U.S., Europe, Israel, and South America, 1960-61.
• Amanda Wingfield, The Glass Menagerie, U.S., Europe, Israel, and South America, 1960-61.
• Shakespeare Revisited: A Program for Two Players (readings and songs), U.S. cities, 1962-63.
• Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Cleveland, and Mrs. Wilson, The White House, U.S. cities, 1964.
• Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney, The Circle, U.S. cities, 1966.
• Mrs. Fisher, The Show-Off, U.S. cities, 1968.
• Also appeared as Mrs. Grey in touring company of Alice Sit-by-the-Fire.
• Credits; Stage Producer
• Mary Rose, ANTA Theatre, New York City, 1951.
• (With Jack Manning) Lovers, Villains, and Fools, Helen Hayes Repertory Company, 1964.
• The Circle, Helen Hayes Repertory Company, 1964.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• (Film debut) Jean and the Calico Doll, Vitagraph, 1910.
• Leora, Arrowsmith, United Artists (UA), 1931.
• Madelon Claudet, The Sin of Madelon Claudet (also known as TheLullaby), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), 1931.
• Catherine Barkley, A Farewell to Arms, Paramount, 1932.
• Lien Wha, The Son-Daughter, MGM, 1932.
• Stella Hallman, Another Language, MGM, 1933.
• Madame Fabian, Night Flight, MGM, 1933.
• Angela Chiarmonte, The White Sister (also known as Bianco, Rosso E... and The Sin), Columbia/Warner Brothers, 1933.
• Woman in hotel lobby, Crime without Passion, Paramount, 1934.
• Maggie Wylie, What Every Woman Knows, MGM, 1934.
• Title role, Vanessa, Her Love Story, MGM, 1935.
• Herself, Stage Door Canteen, UA, 1943.
• Countess Vronsky, Anna Karenina, British-Lion, 1948.
• Lucille Jefferson, My Son, John, Paramount, 1952.
• Main Street to Broadway, MGM, 1953.
• Empress, Anastasia, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956.
• Tourist, Third Man on the Mountain (also known as Banner in theSky), Buena Vista, 1959.
• Ada Quonsett, Airport, Universal, 1970.
• Mrs. Steinmetz, Herbie Rides Again, Buena Vista, 1974.
• Herself, Helen Hayes: Portrait of an American Actress, Phoenix, 1974.
• Hettie, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing, Buena Vista, 1975.
• Lady St. Edmund, Candleshoe, Buena Vista, 1978.
• Also appeared in silent films Love and Ambition, 1917, Weaversof Life, 1917, and A Rodeo Mixup, 1924; narrator, Hopper's Silence, 1981; appeared as herself, Route One, 1989.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• Kraft Television Theater, NBC, 1947.
• The Billy Rose Show, ABC, 1950.
• The Prudential Family Playhouse, CBS, 1950.
• Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, ABC, 1950.
• Robert Montgomery Presents, NBC, 1950.
• Showtime at the Apollo, ABC, 1950.
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, CBS, 1952.
• Motorola Television Theatre, ABC, 1953.
• Omnibus, CBS, 1953.
• Chrysler Medallion Theater, CBS, 1953.
• Ed Sullivan Show, CBS, 1955.
• The Alcoa Hour, NBC, 1955.
• "Dear Brutus," Omnibus, CBS, 1956.
• Mrs. Gilling, "Mrs. Gilling and the Skyscraper," Alcoa Hour, NBC,1957.
• Mother Seraphim, "One Red Rose for Christmas," U.S. Steel Hour, CBS, 1958.
• Essie Miller, "Ah! Wilderness," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1959.
• Madame Ranevskaya, "The Cherry Orchard," Play of the Week, WNTA, 1959.
• Mother Hildebrand, "The Velvet Glove," Play of the Week, WNTA, 1960.
• Sister Theresa, "Four Women in Black," Playhouse 90, CBS, 1961.
• June Havoc Show, syndicated, 1964-65.
• The Today Show, CBS, 1965-66.
• Education Exchange, ABC, 1965-67.
• Girl Talk, ABC, 1966-67.
• Tarzan, NBC, 1967.
• "Retire in Sunny Hawaii ... Forever," Hawaii Five-O, CBS, c. 1975.
• The Love Boat, ABC, 1977.
• Highway to Heaven, NBC, 1984.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Ernesta Snoop, The Snoop Sisters (limited series), NBC, 1973-74.
• Host and narrator, Or Do We Still Live?, NET, 1967.
• Old Friends ... New Friends, PBS, 1978.
• Clara Williams, Hawaii Five-O, CBS, 1980.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Fanny Cavendish, The Royal Family, CBS, 1954.
• Mrs. Antrobus, Skin of Our Teeth, NBC, 1955.
• Abbie Brewster, Arsenic and Old Lace, CBS, 1955.
• Woman: The Lonely Years, CBS, 1960.
• Cornelia Van Gorder, The Bat, NBC, 1960.
• Narrator, Precious Cargo, NBC, 1964.
• Narrator, Yankee, Don't Go Home, CBS, 1967.
• Abbie Brewster, Arsenic and Old Lace, ABC, 1969.
• Sophie Curtis, Do Not Fold, Spindle, or Mutilate, ABC, 1971.
• Veta Louise Simmons, Harvey, NBC, 1972.
• Dr. McCartney, Arthur Hailey's "The Moneychangers" (pilot), NBC, 1976.
• Mrs. Wise, Victory at Entebbe, ABC, 1976.
• Emma Long, A Family Upside Down, NBC, 1978.
• Lavinia Fullerton, Agatha Christie's "Murder Is Easy," CBS, 1982.
• Miss Jane Marple, Agatha Christie's "Caribbean Mystery," CBS, 1983.
• Miss Jane Marple, Agatha Christie's "Murder with Mirror," CBS, 1985.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• Chairwoman, The March of Dimes Show, CBS, 1950.
• The Best of Broadway, CBS, 1954.
• Light's Diamond Jubilee, NBC, 1954.
• Springtime USA, ABC, 1956.
• The General Motors Fiftieth Anniversary Show, NBC, 1957.
• Narrator, The Front Page, ABC, 1970.
• Host, Mrs. Wyler, End of Summer, PBS, 1977.
• Annual Tony Awards Presentation, CBS, 1978.
• Host, The Guardian, NBC, 1978.
• Also appeared in Broadway Plays Washington! Kennedy Center Tonight, 1982; The Fortieth Annual Tony Awards, 1986; The Forty-first Annual Tony Awards, 1987; The National AIDS Awareness Test: What Do You Know about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome?, 1987; Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table, 1987; Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, 1988; and Night of One Hundred Stars III, 1990.
• Credits; Other Television Appearances
• Also appeared as Amanda in the television play The Glass Menagerieon Japanese television, 1965-66, and in television plays The Twelve PoundLook, The Christmas Tie, Mary of Scotland, and Drugstore on a SundayAfternoon.
• Credits; Radio Appearances
• Helen Hayes Theatre (series), CBS, 1940-41.
• Elastic Theatre (series), CBS, 1948-49.
• Weekday (series), NBC, 1956.
• Radio debut in fifteen-minute talks, 1930; also appeared on New Penny, 1935, and on Bambi, 1936; recruiting program for U.S. Army and Navy, 1945; and Stage Door Canteen; narrated play for young people, CBS,1956.
• (With Mary Kennedy) Star on Her Forehead (novel), Dodd, 1949.
• (With Lewis Funke) A Gift of Joy (memoir), M. Evans, 1965.
• (With Sandford Dody) On Reflection: An Autobiography, M. Evans, 1969.
• (With Anita Loos) Twice over Lightly: New York Then and Now (guidebook/memoir), Harcourt, 1971.
• A Gathering of Hope, Fortress, 1983.
• (With Marion G. Gladney) Our Best Years, Doubleday, 1984.
• (With Gladney) Loving Life: Promises and Problems, Pains and Joys,Doubleday, 1987.
• (With Thomas Chastain) Where the Truth Lies: A Novel of Glamour and Murder in Hollywood (mystery), Morrow, 1988.
• (With Katherine Hatch) My Life in Three Acts (autobiography), Harcourt, 1990.
• Also author of preface to Stage for a Nation: The Story of the National Theatre, by Douglas B. Lee, University Press of America, 1986.
• Credits; Recordings
• (With Orson Welles, Henry Fonda, and James Earl Jones) Great AmericanDocuments (spoken word album), CBS, c. 1976.
• (With Welles) Orson Welles/Helen Hayes at Their Best (album), Mark56, c. 1979.
• Also appeared on numerous soundtrack recordings of her plays and radio programs.
• Credits; Writings
• (With Mary Kennedy) Star on Her Forehead (novel), Dodd, 1949.
• (With Lewis Funke) A Gift of Joy (memoir), M. Evans, 1965.
• (With Sandford Dody) On Reflection: An Autobiography, M. Evans, 1969.
• (With Anita Loos) Twice over Lightly: New York Then and Now (guidebook/memoir), Harcourt, 1971.
• Gathering of Hope, Fortress, 1983.
• (With Marion G. Gladney) Our Best Years, Doubleday, 1984.
• (With Gladney) Loving Life: Promises and Problems, Pains and Joys,Doubleday, 1987.
• (With Thomas Chastain) Where the Truth Lies: A Novel of Glamour and Murder in Hollywood (mystery), Morrow, 1988.
• (With Katherine Hatch) My Life in Three Acts (autobiography), Harcourt, 1990.
• Also author of preface to Stage for a Nation: The Story of the National Theatre, by Douglas B. Lee, University Press of America, 1986.

Further Reference

Periodicals

• Chicago Tribune, June 29, 1987; February 21, 1988; March 27, 1988.
• Detroit Free Press, June 11, 1974.
• Detroit News, September 10, 1972.
• Los Angeles Times, May 13, 1990.
• New York Times, March 18, 1993.
• People, March 29, 1993, p. 58.
• Times (London), March 19, 1993, p. 21.
• Washington Post, May 7, 1990; March 18, 1993, p. D1.