Helen Wood (1917-1988) was an American actress active in film and radio primarily during the 1930s. She is not to be confused with the actress and performer Helen [Ann] Wood (1935-1998), who later appeared in Deep Throat and other adult films as "Dolly Sharp."
Helen Wood | |
---|---|
Born | (1917-06-04)June 4, 1917[citation needed] Clarksville, Tennessee, USA |
Died | February 8, 1988(1988-02-08) (aged 70)[citation needed] Burbank, California, USA |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1933–1949 |
Spouse | Earl Henriksen |
Wood was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, to Edwin Wood (who worked in real estate and insurance) and Hazel Case.[1] She had a younger sister, Mary Martha.[2]
After winning a beauty contest at Clarksville's Capitol Theatre in 1933 as a teenager, Wood earned a trip to Hollywood, where she was cast in Roman Scandals (1933). She then returned to Clarksville to finish high school; upon her return to Hollywood after graduation, she signed a contract with MGM.[3]
She reportedly spent $4,000 on a vocal coach who helped her drop her Southern accent.[4] She later signed at 20th Century Fox, where she was made to compete for parts against fellow actresses Rita Hayworth (then Margarita Cansino) and Dixie Dunbar.[1] On-screen, she was frequently paired with actor Thomas Beck.[5] Supposedly she had to back out of a big role due to an illness early on in her career.[3]
She worked in radio after her on-screen roles dried up in the late 1930s. In 1942, she married Earl Henriksen.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link){{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)General | |
---|---|
National libraries | |
Other |
![]() | This article about a United States film actor born in the 1910s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |