Actress. She was an American actress. An Arkansas girl who followed her dreams to Hollywood in the 1930s, Helen Madge Brown grew up playing piano in a little church in the small town of Siloam Springs. After completing high school, she secured a post with the Railroad Mail Service in Texarkana, Arkansas. Her father, Leon Sugg Brown, managed the office in Siloam. Scoring high marks on the Civil Service exam, she negotiated a transfer to New York City and realized her dream to study acting. She juggled work and training with the School of the Theater at the Threshold Playhouse. An offer to join the Theater Guild launched a career that would last decades. From stage, to radio broadcasting, film and television, she was known for her round face and warm contralto speaking voice. On air, she played gay, glamorous young women. She would build a career in film and television as a character actor doing the unthinkable in Hollywood, intentionally playing older woman. She was known for doing her own make-up. A small sampling of her work, which numbers over 130 credits, includes "I'll Always Love You" in 1935, "Out West With The Peppers" in 1940, "The Walls of Jericho" in 1948, "Shane" in 1953, and "That Touch of Mink" in 1963. Her television credits include "Death Valley Days", "Father Knows Best," "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," and "Highway to Heaven." Her last television appearance would be on "ER" in 1994. Helen Madge Brown never married or had children.
Actress. She was an American actress. An Arkansas girl who followed her dreams to Hollywood in the 1930s, Helen Madge Brown grew up playing piano in a little church in the small town of Siloam Springs. After completing high school, she secured a post with the Railroad Mail Service in Texarkana, Arkansas. Her father, Leon Sugg Brown, managed the office in Siloam. Scoring high marks on the Civil Service exam, she negotiated a transfer to New York City and realized her dream to study acting. She juggled work and training with the School of the Theater at the Threshold Playhouse. An offer to join the Theater Guild launched a career that would last decades. From stage, to radio broadcasting, film and television, she was known for her round face and warm contralto speaking voice. On air, she played gay, glamorous young women. She would build a career in film and television as a character actor doing the unthinkable in Hollywood, intentionally playing older woman. She was known for doing her own make-up. A small sampling of her work, which numbers over 130 credits, includes "I'll Always Love You" in 1935, "Out West With The Peppers" in 1940, "The Walls of Jericho" in 1948, "Shane" in 1953, and "That Touch of Mink" in 1963. Her television credits include "Death Valley Days", "Father Knows Best," "The Twilight Zone," "Perry Mason," and "Highway to Heaven." Her last television appearance would be on "ER" in 1994. Helen Madge Brown never married or had children.
Bio by: Audrey Plattner-Baxter
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SMALL TOWN GIRL WHO FOLLOWED HER DREAMS TO HOLLYWOOD ~ SHE ACTED WITH THE BEST
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