Helen Hayes

Helen Hayes (1900-1993), American actor, often called the first lady of the American theater. She was born Helen Hayes Brown in Washington, D.C. She made her theatrical debut at the age of five and soon became a popular child actor in a Washington stock company. She first appeared in New York City in 1908 in a musical comedy called Old Dutch. Among the later milestones in her career were appearances on Broadway in Dear Brutus (1918), Clarence (1919), What Every Woman Knows (1926), Mary of Scotland (1933), Victoria Regina (1935; perhaps her most famous role), The Wisteria Trees (1950), and Time Remembered (1957). In the theatrical seasons of 1966-67 and 1967-68 Hayes performed with the Association of Producing Artists-Phoenix Theatre repertory company both in New York City and on tour.

In addition to playing roles on radio and television, Hayes was seen in many motion pictures, including The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), for which she received an Academy Award for best actress; Arrowsmith (1931); A Farewell to Arms (1932); Vanessa, Her Love Story (1935); Anastasia (1956); and Airport (1970), for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress. She married the American playwright Charles MacArthur in 1928. In 1955, to celebrate her 50th anniversary on the stage, the Fulton Theater in New York City was renamed the Helen Hayes Theater (demolished 1982). Hayes published three autobiographical works, A Gift of Joy (1965), On Reflection (1968), and My Life in Three Acts (1990).