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Helen Parrish — Actress (former), American

Helen Parrish

Born
Mar 12, 1923
body type
Slim
nationality
American

Biography

About Helen Parrish

Edited by the community

Helen Parrish was a slim-eyed brunette with a natural look, born on March 12, 1923, in Columbus, Georgia. She was an American actress, starting in films at age four as Babe Ruth's daughter in the silent movie Babe Comes Home (1927). She also appeared in Our Gang comedy shorts and played child versions of lead characters, such as Loretta Young in Beau Ideal (1931) and Mary Brian in Song of the Eagle (1933).

As a teen, Helen became known for playing kid sisters and friends in films like There's Always Tomorrow (1934), Straight from the Heart (1935), and A Dog of Flanders (1935). Her most notable roles were in Deanna Durbin's musicals, where she often played a jealous rival. Their first film together, Mad About Music (1938), led Universal to team them again in Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) and First Love (1939).

Helen had a steady career in B-movies, including X Marks the Spot (1931), When a Feller Needs a Friend (1932), and Too Many Blondes (1941). Her last film was the B western The Wolf Hunters (1949). In the 1950s, she moved to television, appearing in anthologies like Fireside Theatre and Chevon Theatre, and finished her on-camera work with guest spots on Leave It to Beaver and The Danny Thomas Show.

Her older brother Robert Parrish became a respected film editor and director, but her older sister Beverly died at age 10 after one film. Helen married actor/screenwriter Charles Lang and later TV producer John Guedel, but had no children. She died of cancer on February 22, 1959, at age 35 on a Sunday.

Record

Profile details

Personal

Died
Sunday 22nd of February 1959 (age 35)
Birthplace
Columbus, Georgia, United States
Ethnicity
Caucasian
Sexuality
Straight

Body

Hair Color
Brown

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Frequently asked

How did Helen Parrish and Deanna Durbin's on-screen rivalry come about?

After they worked well together in Mad About Music (1938), Universal paired them again in Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) and First Love (1939), with Helen often playing a jealous, spiteful rival.

Was Helen Parrish from a show business family?

Her mother Laura R. Parrish was a stage actress, her older brother Robert Parrish became a film editor and director, and her older sister Beverly was a child actress who died young.

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