Helen Hayes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Helen Hayes
Promotional photo, 1940
Born	Helen Hayes Brown (1900-10-10)October 10, 1900 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Died	March 17, 1993(1993-03-17) (aged 92) Nyack, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1905–1987
Spouse(s)	Charles MacArthur ​ ​ (m. 1928; died 1956)​
Children	2, including James MacArthur

Helen Hayes MacArthur (born Helen Hayes Brown; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993) was a famous American actress. Her acting career lasted for almost 90 years! People often called her the "First Lady of American Theatre" because she was so important to the stage.

Helen Hayes was the second person ever, and the first woman, to win an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award. This special achievement is called an EGOT. She was also the first person to win the Triple Crown of Acting, which means she won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony for acting roles. Only two other people have achieved both of these amazing feats. In 1986, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is America's highest award for civilians, from President Ronald Reagan. She also received the National Medal of Arts in 1988.

Since 1984, the annual Helen Hayes Awards have celebrated great theatre in the Washington, D.C. area. These awards are named in her honor. Also, two different theatres in New York City's Theatre District have been named the Helen Hayes Theatre to celebrate her incredible career. She is remembered as one of the most important leading actresses of the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Helen Hayes Brown was born in Washington, D.C., on October 10, 1900. Her mother, Catherine Estelle "Essie" Hayes, wanted to be an actress and worked with traveling theatre groups. Her father, Francis van Arnum Brown, had many jobs, including working at the Washington Patent Office.

Helen's grandparents on her mother's side came from Ireland during the Great Famine. Helen went to a special primary school called Dominican Academy in New York City from 1910 to 1912. She performed in plays like The Old Dutch and Little Lord Fauntleroy there. She later graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Heart Convent in Washington in 1917.

A Long and Successful Career

Helen Hayes in 1927

Helen Hayes started acting on stage when she was very young. She said her first performance was at age five, singing at the Belasco Theatre in Washington. By the time she was ten, she had already made a short film called Jean and the Calico Doll (1910).

Her first movie with sound was The Sin of Madelon Claudet, and she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in it. She then starred in other movies like Arrowsmith and A Farewell to Arms. Even though she was successful in movies, Helen preferred acting on stage.

Helen returned to Broadway in 1935. For three years, she played the main character in a play called Victoria Regina, where she acted as Queen Victoria.

Helen Hayes in the film What Every Woman Knows (1934)

In the 1950s, Helen went back to Hollywood and her movie career grew even more. She won another Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as an older passenger in the movie Airport (1970). She also appeared in several Disney films, including Herbie Rides Again and Candleshoe. Her role in Anastasia was seen as a big comeback. She had taken a break from acting after her daughter passed away and her husband became ill.

In 1955, a theatre was named the Fulton Theatre/Helen Hayes Theatre in her honor. Later, when that theatre was torn down, another one nearby was renamed the Helen Hayes Theatre in 1983.

Helen Hayes was also known for her friendship with writer Anita Loos. They explored New York City together, visiting different places and talking to people. Their adventures led to a book they wrote called Twice Over Lightly, published in 1972.

People aren't sure who first called Helen Hayes the "First Lady of the Theatre." Her friend, actress Katharine Cornell, also had that title. One critic said that Katharine Cornell played queens like they were regular women, but Helen Hayes played regular women like they were queens!

Helen received many other awards throughout her career. In 1982, she helped start the National Wildflower Research Center (now the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) in Austin, Texas, with her friend Lady Bird Johnson. This center helps protect native plants in North America. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is in the American Theatre Hall of Fame.

Personal Life and Family

Helen Hayes was a Catholic and a Republican. She wrote three books about her life: A Gift of Joy, On Reflection, and My Life in Three Acts. In these books, she shared about her return to the Catholic Church and the sad death of her 19-year-old daughter, Mary, who passed away from polio.

Helen's adopted son, James MacArthur (1937–2010), also became a successful actor. He was known for his role in the TV show Hawaii Five-O. Helen even appeared as a guest star on Hawaii Five-O in 1975 and on The Love Boat with her son.

Helen Hayes had asthma, which was made worse by dust on stage. Because of this, she retired from theatre in 1971 when she was 71 years old. Her last Broadway show was a revival of Harvey. In her later years, she spent a lot of time writing and raising money for groups that help people with asthma.

Helping Others

Helen Hayes at the Riverside Shakespeare Company Shakespeare Center Dedication, 1982

Helen Hayes was very generous with her time and money, supporting many causes and groups. She was a founding member of the Board of Advisors for the Riverside Shakespeare Company in New York City in 1981. She also served on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of the USA in New York City.

In 1982, Helen helped dedicate The Shakespeare Center with theatre producer Joseph Papp. She also performed in benefit shows to raise money for the Riverside Shakespeare Company.

Helen Hayes Hospital

Helen Hayes with a young patient at Helen Hayes Hospital in 1945

Helen Hayes was most proud of her work with Helen Hayes Hospital. This hospital in West Haverstraw, New York, helps people with disabilities get better through physical rehabilitation. She once said that seeing her name on theatre signs was great, but nothing made her prouder than her 49 years helping this special hospital.

Helen Hayes at Helen Hayes Hospital in the 1950s

Helen started working with the hospital in the 1940s. In 1974, the hospital was renamed in her honor. She worked on the hospital's Board of Visitors for 49 years until she passed away. She fought hard to keep the hospital from moving in the 1960s and helped get money to make it a modern facility in the 1970s.

She also supported hospital events and fundraising. She used to give diplomas to children graduating when it was a pediatric hospital. She also attended the hospital's annual Classic Race and even offered her home for a dinner to start the hospital's special fund.

Later Years and Legacy

Helen Hayes passed away on March 17, 1993, from heart failure in Nyack, New York. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Nyack. She was survived by her son, James Gordon MacArthur, and her four grandchildren. In 2011, the United States honored her with a postage stamp.

Acting Credits

Theatre

Film

Television

Awards and Honors

In 1972, she received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. The next year, in 1973, Helen Hayes was added to the National Women's Hall of Fame. In 1979, she was featured on a Supersisters trading card. She also received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged from the Jefferson Awards in 1983. In 1979, she received the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame.

See Also

In Spanish: Helen Hayes para niños

• List of people who have won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations