MacArthur, Helen Hayes Brown (1900-1993)
Item
Title
MacArthur, Helen Hayes Brown (1900-1993)
Helen Hayes
Description
Helen Hayes MacArthur was an American actress active from 1905 to 1987 given the nickname "First Lady of American Theatre." She was the second woman to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award (EGOT). She was the first person to win the Triple Crown of Acting. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts.
She has an annual award named after her recognizing excellence in theater in Washington D.C. since 1984. The Fulton Theatre in New York City on 46th Street was also renamed after her. The theater was torn down in 1982, but the Little Theatre nearby was renamed after her instead.
She was born Helen Hayes Brown on October 10, 1900, in Washington D.C. Her parents were Francis Van Arnum Brown and Catherine Estelle "Essie" Hayes. Her grandparents were Irish immigrants who left due to the potato famine.
Hayes was Catholic and participated in politics as a Republican. She was also known for her philanthropy donating to the New York City Riverside Shakespeare Company and was a member of the board of directors for the Greater New York City Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA in the 1970s. Most notable is her work with the Helen Hayes Hospital. The medical center focused on physical rehabilitation and was located in West Haverstraw, New York. She became involved in the 1940s with the hospital, which was renamed after her in 1974. She also helped create the Actors' Fund Home in Englewood
She married Charles MacArthur in 1928. She had two children a daughter Mary who died in 1949 due to polio and James Gordon MacArthur, an adopted son who was also a successful actor. She also had four grandchildren, Charles P. MacArthur, Mary McClure, Juliette Rappaport, and James D. MacArthur.
She died in Nyack, New York due to congestive heart failure on March 17, 1993.
She has an annual award named after her recognizing excellence in theater in Washington D.C. since 1984. The Fulton Theatre in New York City on 46th Street was also renamed after her. The theater was torn down in 1982, but the Little Theatre nearby was renamed after her instead.
She was born Helen Hayes Brown on October 10, 1900, in Washington D.C. Her parents were Francis Van Arnum Brown and Catherine Estelle "Essie" Hayes. Her grandparents were Irish immigrants who left due to the potato famine.
Hayes was Catholic and participated in politics as a Republican. She was also known for her philanthropy donating to the New York City Riverside Shakespeare Company and was a member of the board of directors for the Greater New York City Council of the Girl Scouts of the USA in the 1970s. Most notable is her work with the Helen Hayes Hospital. The medical center focused on physical rehabilitation and was located in West Haverstraw, New York. She became involved in the 1940s with the hospital, which was renamed after her in 1974. She also helped create the Actors' Fund Home in Englewood
She married Charles MacArthur in 1928. She had two children a daughter Mary who died in 1949 due to polio and James Gordon MacArthur, an adopted son who was also a successful actor. She also had four grandchildren, Charles P. MacArthur, Mary McClure, Juliette Rappaport, and James D. MacArthur.
She died in Nyack, New York due to congestive heart failure on March 17, 1993.
Source
“Helen Hayes.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Hayes.
“From the Archives: Helen Hayes, Legend of U.S. Theater, Dies.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 1993, www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-helen-hayes-19930318-story.html#:~:text=Successive%20birthdays%20brought%20old%20friends,N.J.%2C%20another%20of%20her%20charities.
Birth Date
1900-10-10
Birthplace
Washington D.C., United States
Death Date
1993-03-27
Source of File Attached
“Helen Hayes.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Apr. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Hayes.
Collection
Citation
“MacArthur, Helen Hayes Brown (1900-1993),” Englewood Makes History, accessed June 17, 2024, https://englewoodmakeshistory.org/items/show/216.
