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Helen Hughes (actress)

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Helen Hughes
Born(1918-01-08)8 January 1918
Died3 April 2018(2018-04-03) (aged 100)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActress

Helen Hughes (January 8, 1918 - April 3, 2018) was an American-Canadian actress who has worked in theatre, television, and film.[1]

Biography

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Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania,[1] Hughes did some acting while attending college; however, her undergraduate degree (from Indiana State Teacher's College, class of 1940[2][3]) and her graduate study (at Penn State) both focused on teaching art.[4]

She became a permanent resident of Canada in 1972. Her move resulted from acting opportunities, when she performed in 10 weeks of summer theatre in Canada. "I discovered that I loved Canada", she said.[5] A contributing factor in the decision was that her marriage had broken up. With her children grown, she felt free to make a change.[6]

Hughes was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 1986. She made her last appearance at age 96, as a guest actress in the TV series Sensitive Skin.[7]

In 1980, Hughes starred in The 75th at the Lunchbox Theatre. in Alberta, Canada.[8]

At the 10th Genie Awards in 1989, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film Martha, Ruth and Edie.[9]

Hughes also made TV commercials for American Express, Anacin,[4] and one for Heinz ketchup that ran for about three years.[6]

Death

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On April 3, 2018, Hughes died in Toronto, Ontario, at age 100.[1]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1977 Outrageous! Mrs. Connors
1979 Wild Horse Hank Mrs. Webley
1981 Incubus Agatha Galen
1982 Visiting Hours Louise Shepherd
1983 Au Nom de Tous les Miens Martin Gray's grand-mother
1985 The Peanut Butter Solution Mary, the ghost in the Kitchen
1987 Blue Monkey Marwella Harbison
1987 Night Friend Nosy neighbour
1988 Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird Mrs. Mandel
1990 The Amityville Curse Mrs. Moriarty
1990 Falling Over Backwards Rose
1995 Billy Madison 2nd Grade Teacher
1995 Tommy Boy Boardroom Lady
1996 Never Too Late Eunice
1996 Goosebumps Grandma Rose
1996 Night of the Twisters (film) Grandma Belle "Zephyr" Hatch
1999 Storm of the Century Roberta Coign

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lentz, Harris M. (2018). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 177. ISBN 9781476670331.
  2. ^ "State Music Federation in Session Here; All Records for Attendance Broken at Indiana Meet; Merit Program; Compositions and Awards Lead to Deserved Applause". The Indiana Gazette. April 22, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved September 13, 2024. "Miss Helen Hughes, soprano, a student in the art department of Indiana State Teachers College, was soloist [...] Miss Hughes is a member of the Quill Club and a member of the cast of the commencement play, and just a freshman—a young artist with a future."
  3. ^ "Graduation Ends Commencement at Local College; Philadelphia School Head Makes Address to Senior Class; Graduation" (Continued from page one). The Indiana Gazette. The Indiana Gazette. May 27, 1940. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved September 13, 2024. "Miss Helen Hughes, Class of 1940, gave two vocal selections, accompanied by Miss Rhea McAnulty."
  4. ^ a b Maskoulis, Julia (November 11, 1977). "A woman on her own more than just a role". The Gazette. p. 29. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Helen Hughes plays busy mother in Centaur version of Murrell play". Calgary Herald. CP. February 1, 1980. p. C 4. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Chadbourne, Eugene (October 22, 1976). "They love acting, but it's the commercials that pay the rent". Calgary Herald. p. 47. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Helen Hughes 1918-2018". magazine Performers. Archived from the original on 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  8. ^ Brennan, Brian (April 1, 1980). "Actress Helen Hughes steals Lnchbox Theatre's latest show". Calgary Herald. p. D 13. Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "List of nominees for the Genie Awards". Montreal Gazette, February 14, 1989.
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