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Helen Horton
Actor

Helen Horton

28 Sep 1923Born
28 Sep 2007Died
84Age at death
34Credits

Biography

Helen Virginia Horton (November 21, 1923 – September 28, 2007) was an American actress. She was born in Chicago and had a brief career in New York. She married Hamish Thomson and lived near London. She worked extensively in British television, radio and theatre, and had three children; her granddaughter is the English actress Lily James. Horton voiced the ship's computer, "Mother", in the 1979 film Alien.

Horton attended Northwestern University where she became lifelong friends with Patricia Neal (Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still).

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She was well thought of in the drama department and was cast as Viola, the lead role in Twelfth Night, with Neal cast as Olivia, in a university production of the Shakespeare play.

In September 1945, Horton and Neal took a shared apartment in New York and looked for work. They both got parts in a production of Seven Mirrors at the Blackfriars Theatre.

Horton took over from Vivien Leigh as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire after the play's London run was completed and it began to tour the United Kingdom. When Neal mentioned the connection to Leigh, she remarked "No one takes over for me, dear. When I leave a play, it's over."

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1990Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty FilesFilm: ALA Group Leader
  2. 1989Agatha Christie's PoirotSeries: Julia Olivera (1 episode)
  3. 1988The Woman He LovedFilm: Martha
  4. 1987The Two Mrs. GrenvillesSeries: Nurse at Playhouse (2 episodes)
  5. 1985Reunion at FairboroughFilm: Mrs Bigard
  6. 1984The Razor's EdgeFilm: Red Cross Lady
  7. 1983Superman IIIFilm: Miss Henderson
  8. 1980The Best of FriendsFilm: Mrs Lovsky
  9. 1979MinderSeries: Judge's Wife (1 episode)
  10. 1979AlienFilm: Mother (voice)
  11. 1979Tales of the UnexpectedSeries: American Passenger, Martha (1 episode)
  12. 1977Widows' NestFilm: Ana
  13. 1977Auntie Kathleen's Old ClothesFilm: Nancy
  14. 1975Two's CompanySeries: Clare (1 episode)
  15. 1974Phase IVFilm: Mildred Eldridge
  16. 1973Centre PlaySeries: Nancy (1 episode)
  17. 1972Endless NightFilm: Aunt Beth
  18. 1972Van der ValkSeries: Mrs Lovell Wallace (1 episode)
  19. 1972Anne of Green GablesSeries: Mrs Barry (2 episodes)
  20. 1970The Pueblo AffairFilm: Mrs. Bucher
  21. 1969The Benny Hill ShowSeries (58 episodes)
  22. 1969The ChairmanFilm: Susan Wright
  23. 1969The Last Shot You HearFilm: Dodie Rubens
  24. 1966Satisfaction GuaranteedFilm: Brenda Claffern
  25. 1965BBC Play of the MonthSeries: Grace Torrence (1 episode)
  26. 1965Out of the UnknownSeries: Brenda Claffern (1 episode)
  27. 1963EspionageSeries: Mrs Quade (1 episode)
  28. 1961HurricaneSeries: Mrs. Van Diemen (5 episodes)
  29. 1960Danger ManSeries: Helen (1 episode)
  30. 1960Never Take Sweets from a StrangerFilm: Sylvia Kingsley
  31. 1957The Mark of the HawkFilm: Barbara Craig
  32. 1957Thunder on Sycamore StreetFilm: Clarice Morrison
  33. 1957Let's Be HappyFilm: Sadie Whitelaw
  34. 1953Strange StoriesFilm: Marie ('Strange Journey')

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.