Helen Twelvetrees facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Helen Twelvetrees
Studio portrait, 1933
Born	Helen Marie Jurgens December 25, 1907 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Died	February 13, 1958(1958-02-13) (aged 50) Middletown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Middletown Cemetery
Education	Public School #119 Brooklyn Heights Seminary
Alma mater	American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1927–1951
Spouse(s)	Clark Twelvetrees ​ ​ (m. 1927; div. 1931)​ Frank Woody ​ ​ (m. 1931; div. 1936)​ Conrad Payne ​ (m. 1947⁠–⁠1958)​
Children	1

Helen Twelvetrees (born Helen Marie Jurgens) was an American actress. She was famous for her roles in Hollywood movies from 1929 to 1939. This was when films started having sound, also known as "talkies." She even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to movies.

Helen's Early Life and Education

Helen Marie Jurgens was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 25, 1907. She went to Public School 119 in Brooklyn. Later, she attended the Brooklyn Heights Seminary.

Helen also studied at the Art Students League of New York. After that, she enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. This is a famous school for actors. While studying there, she met an actor named Clark Twelvetrees. They got married in 1927 when she was 19. She then started using his last name, Twelvetrees, as her stage name.

Starting a Career in Hollywood

Twelvetrees filming Thoroughbred in 1936

Helen Twelvetrees already had some experience acting on stage. She moved to Hollywood with many other actors. They were needed to replace silent film stars. These older stars sometimes found it hard to switch to movies with sound.

Her first acting job in Hollywood was with Fox Film Corporation. She appeared in a movie called The Ghost Talks in 1929. After making three films with Fox, she moved to another studio called Pathé. There, she starred in several dramatic movies.

When Pathé joined with RKO Radio Pictures, Helen sometimes got roles that didn't quite fit her. She decided to leave RKO and work as a freelance actress. This meant she could choose her own projects.

Popular Roles and Later Films

In 1930, Helen starred in a film called Her Man. This movie helped define her acting career. She often played roles as strong women facing challenges. She acted alongside famous stars like Spencer Tracy in Now I'll Tell. She also appeared with Maurice Chevalier in A Bedtime Story.

Helen also made two films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. An author named John Douglas Eames said that she was very good at showing strong emotions with little effort.

In 1936, Helen traveled to Australia. She starred in a film called Thoroughbred. This movie was about a racehorse that won the Melbourne Cup. It was filmed at Cinesound Studios in Sydney.

After filming, Helen returned home to Brooklyn. She later performed in a USO play called The Man Who Came to Dinner. Her last two films were Persons in Hiding and Unmarried, both made in 1939.

Life After Film Acting

Helen Twelvetrees outside Cinesound Studios in Sydney, Australia (1936)

After 1939, Helen Twelvetrees left film acting. She focused on performing in summer stock plays. These are plays performed in different theaters during the summer. She made her first appearance on Broadway in 1941 in a play called Boudoir.

After marrying for the third time, she mostly retired from acting. However, she still acted occasionally. For example, in 1951, she played the role of Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire. A fellow actor remembered that Helen had "the saddest eyes."

Helen's Family Life

Helen Twelvetrees was married three times. Her first husband was actor Clark Twelvetrees. They married in 1927 and divorced in 1931.

In 1931, she married Frank Woody. He was a stuntman and later a real estate broker. They had a son named Jack Bryan Woody, who was born in 1932. Jack grew up to become a well-known wildlife biologist. Helen and Frank divorced in 1936.

Her third and final marriage was to Conrad Payne in 1947. He was a farmer and an Air Force captain. Helen spent her later years traveling the world with her husband. He was stationed in different places, including the U.S. and Europe.

Later Years and Legacy

Helen Twelvetrees passed away on February 13, 1958, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. She was 50 years old. Her funeral was a small service. Her ashes were buried in Middletown Cemetery. For many years, her grave did not have a headstone. But in 2013, her family placed one there.

Helen Twelvetrees is remembered for her acting career. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6263 Hollywood Boulevard. This star honors her important work in the movie industry.

In Popular Culture

There is a play called I'm Looking for Helen Twelvetrees. This play explores Helen's life through the eyes of an actor. It also looks at how Helen's life was similar to the character Blanche DuBois, whom she once played.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Helen Twelvetrees para niños