Helen Vinson American film actress Date of Birth: 17.09.1907 Country: USA

Biography of Helen Vinson

Helen Vinson was an American film actress who appeared in 40 films from 1932 to 1945. She was the recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Born on September 17, 1907, in Beaumont, Texas, her real name was Helen Rulfs. Her father was a manager at one of the Texas oil companies. The family eventually settled in Houston, where Helen first developed an interest in acting. She grew up tall (standing at 169 cm) and exceptionally attractive, with brown eyes and natural curls.

In her youth, Helen was passionate about horseback riding and maintained this passion throughout her life. At the age of 18, she married Harry Wickerman, who was 15 years older and came from a wealthy family in Philadelphia. After finishing high school, Helen attended the University of Texas in Austin. Although she did not get into theater school, she diligently pursued roles in local theaters while also studying drama. Her efforts paid off when she made her Broadway debut in the comedy "Los Angeles" in 1927.

The stock market crash in 1929 led to the collapse of her husband's business, resulting in their divorce in 1930. Helen continued to perform on Broadway in productions such as "Death Takes a Holiday," "Berlin," and "The Fatal Alibi." It was during this time that she caught the attention of a talent agent who brought her to Hollywood, where Vinson signed a contract with Warner Brothers. She later regretted entering the film industry so quickly and believed that if she had stayed in New York City longer, her salary would have been much higher.

Vinson, an elegant and sophisticated actress with a slight Southern accent, played both leading and supporting roles. She often portrayed villainous characters, causing antipathy and gossiping about the feminine protagonists. Her first film, "Jewel Robbery," was released in 1932. In the same year, she appeared in five other films, including the melodrama "They Call It Sin," where she played a wealthy bride who comes between David Manners' character and Loretta Young's heroine.

In the classic film "I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang," Vinson portrayed a rather kind "good girl" for whom Paul Muni's character leaves Glenda Farrell's character. Warner Brothers eventually released her from her contract because most of her leading men were shorter and felt uncomfortable appearing alongside Vinson.

Fortunately, unexpected opportunities arose when Helen Vinson was cast in films with popular and masculine Hollywood actors. She acted alongside Warner Baxter, Gary Cooper, Charles Boyer, and Humphrey Bogart. One of her most well-known roles was as Suzanne Ducross, the best friend of the manipulative and malicious wife of the main character played by Cary Grant, in the romantic drama "In Name Only" released in 1939. Suzanne sets her eyes on her friend's husband, who falls in love with the feminine and kind-hearted character played by Carole Lombard.

In 1935, the actress married English tennis player Fred Perry and temporarily moved to the United Kingdom, where she appeared in several films that were not particularly successful. They returned to Los Angeles a couple of years later, hoping that Perry would also have a successful acting career, but it didn't work out for him. They divorced in 1940. Vinson's last husband was stockbroker Donald Hardenbrook, and they were married from 1946 until his death in 1976.

In 1945, her film career came to an end due to her husband's insistence, and Helen became interested in interior design. She spent the rest of her life in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. She occasionally visited friends in Texas and never missed the Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans.

Helen Vinson passed away from natural causes on October 7, 1999, at the age of 92, in Chapel Hill.