Anne Helm
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Anne Helm (born September 12, 1938) is a retired Canadian-born actress and children's author (as Annie Helm), who primarily appeared in guest roles on episodes of various American television series. Her few film roles include playing
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
's love interest in the 1962 film ''
Follow That Dream ''Follow That Dream'' is a 1962 American musical film made by Mirisch Productions and starring Elvis Presley. The film was based on the 1959 novel ''Pioneer, Go Home!'' by Richard P. Powell. Producer Walter Mirisch liked the film's song "Follow T ...
''. Helm had two recurring roles, playing Molly Pierce in five episodes during the 85-episode run of the mid-1960s series '' Run for Your Life'' and playing the minor role of nurse Mary Briggs in an unknown number of episodes of the daily soap opera ''
General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...
'' from 1971 to 1973.


Early years

Helm was born in Toronto, Canada, and grew up in Ste. Marguerite, a hamlet. Her father was a broker of real estate, and her mother operated a country inn and dairy farm. She began studying ballet with the National Ballet Guild of Canada when she was 12, and at 14 she studied at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet School.


Career

Helm began performing on Broadway in the 1940s as she danced in ''High Kickers'' (1941), ''Lady in the Dark'' (1943), and ''Mexican Hayride'' (1944). She returned as an actress, portraying Sally Reece in ''Cloud 7'' (1958) and Edwina Booth in ''Edwin Booth'' (1958). During the 1950s, she modeled clothing for teenage girls in New York, made commercials and danced at the Copacabana night club. Living in New York City, Helm began her pursuit of an acting career, which eventually led to
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...
. Beginning in the 1950s, she made guest appearances on
television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
. Her television debut occurred on ''
The Phil Silvers Show ''The Phil Silvers Show'', originally titled ''You'll Never Get Rich'', is a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959. A pilot titled "Audition Show" was made in 1955, but it was never broadcast. 143 other episodes were broadcast – all half-a ...
'' in the role of a contestant in a beauty pageant. Her 1958 title role in ''
Shirley Temple's Storybook ''Shirley Temple's Storybook'' is a 1958-1961 American children's anthology series hosted and narrated by actress Shirley Temple. The series features adaptations of fairy tales like Mother Goose and other family-oriented stories performed by well ...
s presentation of "The Sleeping Beauty" was the subject of an article in ''
Life Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energ ...
'' magazine. She made her
motion picture A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
debut in 1960. Helm was cast as Linda Moon in the 1960 episode "A Thief or Two" on
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
's
anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...
, ''
The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series was ...
'', with co-star
Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...
. She appeared on the CBS
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
series '' Rawhide'' in the episodes "Incident Near Gloomy River (1961) and "Inside Man" (1962). She guest-starred in an episode of the CBS sitcom ''
My Sister Eileen ''My Sister Eileen'' is a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney, originally published in ''The New Yorker'', which eventually inspired many other works: her 1938 book ''My Sister Eileen'', a play, a musical, a radio play (a ...
'', with
Elaine Stritch Elaine Stritch (February 2, 1925 – July 17, 2014) was an American actress, best known for her work on Broadway and later, television. She made her professional stage debut in 1944 and appeared in numerous stage plays, musicals, feature films a ...
and
Shirley Bonne Shirley Mae Tanner (born May 22, 1934) is an American former film and television actress. She is known for playing the role of "Eileen Sherwood" in the American sitcom television series ''My Sister Eileen''. Born in Los Angeles, California, the ...
. In 1961, Helm appeared in an episode of
Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...
("The Changing Heart", Series 6, episode 14/205, airdate January 3, 1961). Alfred Hitchcock Presents The Big Kick, Season 7 episode 37. She guest-starred in the premiere episode of
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
's ''
Bus Stop A bus stop is a place where buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelters, seating, and possibly electronic passenger ...
'' drama series. That same year, she appeared in the first season of CBS's ''
Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
'' in the episode "The Clover Throne", and in the syndicated
crime drama Crime films, in the broadest sense, is a film genre inspired by and analogous to the crime fiction literary genre. Films of this genre generally involve various aspects of crime and its detection. Stylistically, the genre may overlap and combine ...
''
The Brothers Brannagan ''The Brothers Brannagan'' is an American crime drama television series that aired in syndication from September 24, 1960, to July 15, 1961. Synopsis ''The Brothers Brannagan'' features fictitious detectives Mike and Bob Brannagan, portrayed, re ...
'' in the episode "Equinox." She also played Glamis Barlow, the title character, in the ''
Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a cli ...
'' TV episode, "The Case of the Duplicate Daughter." In Dec 1961 she appeared in ''The Untouchables'' episode 3–8, "Mankiller". Helm was cast as Jennie Metcalf, the daughter of an outlaw who seeks vengeance for her father's death, in the 1962 episode "Girl with a Gun", on the syndicated
anthology series An anthology series is a radio, television, video game or film series that spans different genres and presents a different story and a different set of characters in each different episode, season, segment, or short. These usually have a differ ...
, ''
Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...
.'' Helm drew national recognition as Holly Jones, the love interest of
Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
in his 1962 film ''
Follow That Dream ''Follow That Dream'' is a 1962 American musical film made by Mirisch Productions and starring Elvis Presley. The film was based on the 1959 novel ''Pioneer, Go Home!'' by Richard P. Powell. Producer Walter Mirisch liked the film's song "Follow T ...
''. She made five more films during the 1960s including ''
The Iron Maiden ''The Iron Maiden'' is a 1963 British comedy film. The film was directed by Gerald Thomas, and stars Michael Craig, Anne Helm, Jeff Donnell and Alan Hale, Jr. There are minor roles for ''Carry On'' stalwarts Jim Dale and Joan Sims, and the vet ...
'' (released in the US as ''Swinging Maiden''), a 1962 British made comedy film, '' The Interns'' (1962), '' Honeymoon Hotel'' (1964), ''
The Unkissed Bride ''The Unkissed Bride'', also known as ''Mother Goose-A-Go-Go'', is a 1966 comedy film directed by Jack H. Harris and starring Tommy Kirk. Plot Newlyweds Ted (Kirk) and Margie Hastings (Helm) go on honeymoon at the hotel of Margie's uncle, Jacque ...
'' (1966), and the horror film ''
Nightmare in Wax ''Nightmare in Wax'' is a 1969 horror film. Cameron Mitchell plays Vince Rinaud, a former film special effects artist who is disfigured by Max Block, the head of Paragon Pictures, and also a rival for the affections of a woman (Anne Helm). Lea ...
'' (1969). Helm played different roles in three appearances on ''
Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...
'', an American
Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
series. The first episode Helm was on was entitled "The Dick Pederson Story" (10 Jan. 1962); the second episode was entitled "Heather and Hamish" (10 Apr. 1963) and the third was "The Story of Cain" (16 Dec. 1963). On January 15, 1963, Helm guest-starred in the episode "Protective Custody" of
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
's '' Laramie''
western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...
series.
David Brian Brian James Davis (August 5, 1914 – July 15, 1993), better known as David Brian, was an American actor. He is best known for his role in ''Intruder in the Dust'' (1949), for which he received critical acclaim and a Golden Globe nomination. ...
played Walt Douglas, an official of the stage line, who arrives in Laramie seeking his estranged daughter, Alicia, portrayed by Helm. In the ''
Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...
'' TV Series she played "Helena Dales" in "One Killer on Ice", and "Trudy Trent" in "Bad Seed". Later in 1963, she was cast as Joanie in the series finale, "The Convention," of the modern western series, ''
Empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
''. In 1963 she also guest-starred as Janie in Season-three of CBS's TV series ''Route 66'' in the episode: "Narcissus On An Old Red Fire Engine". Helm appeared in '' The Magic Sword'' (1962) opposite Basil Rathbone and Gary Lockwood. She was originally cast to play Joan Crawford's daughter Carol in William Castle's ''
Strait-Jacket ''Strait-Jacket'' is a 1964 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by William Castle, written by Robert Bloch and starring Joan Crawford. Its plot follows a woman who, having murdered her husband and his lover decades prior, ...
'' (1964) but was replaced. Helm appeared as Nora Martin in a 1964 episode of '' The Fugitive'' titled "Ballad for a Ghost", and again in a 1964 episode of 'Burke's Law' - 'Who Killed 1/2 Of Glory Lee?' - as Sable Delacroix. Helm had the role of Amy in the ABC drama ''
The Long, Hot Summer ''The Long, Hot Summer'' is a 1958 American drama film directed by Martin Ritt. The screenplay was written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., based in part on three works by William Faulkner: the 1931 novella "Spotted Horses", the 1939 sh ...
'' (1965-1966). She also appeared in two episodes of the ABC western series ''
The Big Valley ''The Big Valley'' is an American Western drama television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The one-hour e ...
'', both times in a role that interacted prominently with main cast member
Lee Majors Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American actor. Majors portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western series ''The Big Valley'' (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the American television ...
. Her first appearance was on October 20, 1965, in the first-season episode "Heritage" in the role of Brydie Hanrahan. Helm then returned on March 4, 1968, in the third season in the episode entitled "The Devil's Masquerade," playing the role of Nancy. In 1967 she appeared as Jeanne Springer in Season 3 Episode 16 "Long Time Dead" of ''
Twelve O'Clock High ''Twelve O'Clock High'' is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force, who flew daylight bombing missions against Germany and Occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II ...
''. Helms' appearance on ''
The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
'' in 1968 was her third on that series in three years. In 1968, Helm appeared as Irene Park in Season 1 of ''
Hawaii Five-O Hawaii Five-O or Hawaii Five-0 may refer to: * ''Hawaii Five-0'' (2010 TV series), an American action police procedural television series * ''Hawaii Five-O'' (1968 TV series), an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productio ...
''. In 1969 she appeared as Karen Mallory on the TV Series '' The Virginian'' in the episode titled "Journey to Scathelock." From 1971 to 1973, Helm was a regular cast member on the ABC
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
''
General Hospital ''General Hospital'' (often abbreviated as ''GH'') is an American daytime television soap opera. It is listed in ''Guinness World Records'' as the list of longest-running television shows by category, longest-running American soap opera in pro ...
''. In 1986, Helm appeared in the episode " The Doll", on
Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
's dramatic television anthology, ''
Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances i ...
''.


Author

After her acting career ended in 1986, Helm started writing children's books, as Annie Helm. Her book ''The Sunshine Angel Book for Angel Workers of All Ages'' was published in 1992, followed in 1993 by ''The Little Angel Workbook for Children of all Ages''. Fifteen years later, in 2018, her book ''Babystar'' was published.


Personal life

Anne Helm was married from 1968 to 1969 to author John Sherlock, with whom she had a son, Peter Sherlock. Her second husband was actor
Robert Viharo Robert Viharo (born August 14, 1942) is an American actor. He made an early appearance in 1966 as Harry in ''Dark Shadows''. He is known for his role in '' Valley of the Dolls'' (1967) in the part of a Broadway director. He had the starring role ...
, whom she wed in 1971 and had a daughter, Serena Viharo (born 1977), who also became an actress. Helm and Viharo divorced in 1979.


Select filmography

* ''
Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Western television series starring Dale Robertson that ran from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until its final season, when it expanded to ...
'' 1960, Season 5, Episode 9 * ''
Sea Hunt ''Sea Hunt'' is an American action adventure television series that aired in syndication from 1958 to 1961 and was popular for decades afterwards. The series originally aired for four seasons, with 155 episodes produced. It stars Lloyd Bridges as ...
'' 1960, Season 3, Episode 29 * ''
Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The h ...
'' 1961, Season 1, Episode 15 * '' Rawhide'' 1961, Season 4, Episode 6 * ''
Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a cli ...
'' 1961, Season 4, Episode 26 "The Case of the Duplicate Daughter" * ''
The Iron Maiden ''The Iron Maiden'' is a 1963 British comedy film. The film was directed by Gerald Thomas, and stars Michael Craig, Anne Helm, Jeff Donnell and Alan Hale, Jr. There are minor roles for ''Carry On'' stalwarts Jim Dale and Joan Sims, and the vet ...
'' - (1962) as Kathy Fisher - (US: 'The Swinging Maiden') * ''
Follow that Dream ''Follow That Dream'' is a 1962 American musical film made by Mirisch Productions and starring Elvis Presley. The film was based on the 1959 novel ''Pioneer, Go Home!'' by Richard P. Powell. Producer Walter Mirisch liked the film's song "Follow T ...
'' 1962 movie * '' Laramie'' 1963, Season 4, Episode 15 * ''
The Big Valley ''The Big Valley'' is an American Western drama television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The one-hour e ...
'' (2 episodes): 1965, Season 1, Episode 6 ("Heritage"); 1968, Season 3, Episode 24 ("The Devil's Masquerade") * ''
Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on U ...
'' (2 episodes): 1965, Season 7, Episode 8 ("The Meredith Smith"); 1968, Season 9, Episode 32 ("Pride of a Man") * ''
The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
'' 1968, Season 4, Episode 11 *
Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...
, The Story of Cain 1963 (Ruth Cain)


References


External links

*
The Private Life and Times of Anne Helm
{{DEFAULTSORT:Helm, Anne 1938 births Living people American film actresses American television actresses American children's writers Canadian emigrants to the United States Canadian film actresses Canadian television actresses Actresses from Toronto People from Greater Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses Writers from Toronto 21st-century American women