Helen Vinson

Texas-born 'Helen Vinson' (qv) was born Helen Rulfs in Beaumont on September 17, 1907, the daughter of an oil company exec.. The family eventually settled in Houston, where her inflamed passion for acting was first ignited. While in her teens she married Harry N. Vickerman, a man fifteen years her senior who came from a well-to-do Philadelphia family. Although she was not accepted into the drama department of the University of Texas. She persevered by earning parts in local theater productions. She eventually made her Broadway debut in a walk-on role in a production entitled "Los Angeles" (1927). The stock market crash of 1929 ruined her husband's business and the stress and anguish precipitated divorce proceedings after only five years. Helen gained further notice on Broadway in "Berlin" starring 'Sydney Greenstreet' (qv) and "The Fatal Alibi" (1932) with 'Charles Laughton' (qv). During this time she was also noticed by Warner Brothers talent scouts who ushered the svelte blonde straight to Hollywood.A chic, elegant beauty with a tinge of a Southern drawl, she played both lead and support roles in pre-Code films. Making a strong impression trading insults as the aloof "other woman." Often unsympathetic, self-involved and frequently bitchy and backstabbing. She was not above using her feminine wiles to get her way. She played 'Kay Francis' (qv)' epicurean friend in the mild comedy _Jewel Robbery (1932)_ (qv), and stood between 'Loretta Young' (qv) and 'David Manners' (qv) happiness as his wealthy fiance in the soap-styled drama _They Call It Sin (1932)_ (qv). In the classic _I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)_ (qv), she had a rather bland "nice girl" role as the stylish woman 'Paul Muni' (qv) leaves 'Glenda Farrell' (qv) for. Appearing opposite a number of diminutive male stars such as Muni, 'Edward G. Robinson' (qv), 'James Cagney' (qv) and 'George Raft' (qv), whom she danced with in _Midnight Club (1933)_ (qv), the almost 5'7" actress was not too popular with the so-called vertically-challenged leading men at Warners and was quickly released from her contract.Earlier (in 1931) she had earned major Broadway notice as the female lead in the fantasy "Death Takes a Holiday" playing a woman who literally faces Death (played by 'Philip Merivale' (qv)). Both she and Merivale missed out on recreating their roles in the 1934 film version when the parts instead went to 'Fredric March' (qv) and 'Evelyn Venable' (qv). More film work came Helen's way alongside some of Hollywood's most popular and virile leading men. She played 'Warner Baxter' (qv)'s castoff wife in 'Frank Capra' (qv)'s _Broadway Bill (1934)_ (qv) and 'Gary Cooper' (qv)'s problematic mate in _The Wedding Night (1935)_ (qv). She appeared with 'Charles Boyer' (qv) in _Private Worlds (1935)_ (qv); 'Humphrey Bogart' (qv) in _Two Against the World (1936)_ (qv); 'James Cagney' (qv) in _Torrid Zone (1940)_ (qv) and even lightened it up a little bit in the 'Bob Hope' (qv)/'Paulette Goddard' (qv) comedy _Nothing But the Truth (1941)_ (qv). One of Helen's best known film roles, however, came with the plush drama _In Name Only (1939)_ (qv) starring 'Cary Grant' (qv) and 'Carole Lombard' (qv). In this vintage soaper, Vinson plays a close confidante to the highly manipulative and rancorous 'Kay Francis' (qv), who is married to Grant, who has in turn fallen in love with good-hearted Lombard.When Helen married the British Wimbledon tennis champion 'Fred Perry' (qv), in 1935. She moved to England for a time. While there she made the films _Transatlantic Tunnel (1935)_ (qv), _King of the Damned (1935)_ (qv) and _Love in Exile (1936)_ (qv), which resulted in little fanfare. They relocated to Los Angeles a couple years later so she could find more work. Perry also hoped he could parlay his sports fame into a movie career. Their highly publicized marriage was short-lived, however. Lasting only five years. After marrying her third husband, stockbroker Donald Hardenbrook, in 1945. Helen gave up her career completely according to the wishes of her husband. The couple remained together until his death in 1976. She had no children from her three marriages. After her retirement, she found varied interests including interior design. For the remainder of her life. She divided home life between Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. Helen passed away in Chapel Hill in 1999 of natural causes at the age of 92.::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]