Helen Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Helen Ferguson was an American
actress later turned publicist
.
Born in Decatur, Illinois
in 1901, she graduated from Nicholas High School of Chicago and the Academy of Fine Arts. Ferguson was a newspaper reporter before entering the motion picture field.
It is thought she made her debut in films in 1914, although her first recorded credits are in 1917. She soon starred in roles for Fox Film Corporation by 1920, which is when her career really took off with films such as Hungry Hearts
(1922) for Samuel Goldwyn
. She was cast mostly in westerns, comedies, and serials. She was selected as a WAMPAS Baby Stars
in 1922.
She married actor William Russell in 1925, but he died in 1929. The following year, she married wealthy banker Richard L. Hargreaves. Following her second marriage, she left films to concentrate on stage work, though she only received minimal success in this medium.
In 1933, she left acting altogether to focus on publicity work, a job she became very successful in and which made her a major power in Hollywood, because she was representing such big name stars as Henry Fonda
, Barbara Stanwyck
, and Robert Taylor
, among others. Ferguson represented actress Loretta Young
for more than nineteen years. She kept reporters from needlessly disturbing Young and was considered one of the foremost "suppress agents" in Hollywood.
In 1941, her second husband died, and she retired from publicity work in 1967. She died in Clearwater, Florida
in 1977, aged 75. She is buried at Forest Lawn Glendale in Glendale, California
.
Helen Ferguson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for her contributions to Motion Pictures at 6153 Hollywood Blvd.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress later turned publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
.
Born in Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
in 1901, she graduated from Nicholas High School of Chicago and the Academy of Fine Arts. Ferguson was a newspaper reporter before entering the motion picture field.
It is thought she made her debut in films in 1914, although her first recorded credits are in 1917. She soon starred in roles for Fox Film Corporation by 1920, which is when her career really took off with films such as Hungry Hearts
Hungry Hearts (1922 film)
Hungry Hearts is an American film based on stories by Anzia Yezierska about Jewish immigrants to the Lower East Side of New York City. The film was directed by E. Mason Hopper, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and starred Helen Ferguson and E...
(1922) for Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn was an American film producer, and founding contributor executive of several motion picture studios.-Biography:...
. She was cast mostly in westerns, comedies, and serials. She was selected as a WAMPAS Baby Stars
WAMPAS Baby Stars
The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers in the United States which honored thirteen young women each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. They were selected from 1922 to 1934, and annual...
in 1922.
She married actor William Russell in 1925, but he died in 1929. The following year, she married wealthy banker Richard L. Hargreaves. Following her second marriage, she left films to concentrate on stage work, though she only received minimal success in this medium.
In 1933, she left acting altogether to focus on publicity work, a job she became very successful in and which made her a major power in Hollywood, because she was representing such big name stars as Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
Henry Jaynes Fonda was an American film and stage actor.Fonda made his mark early as a Broadway actor. He also appeared in 1938 in plays performed in White Plains, New York, with Joan Tompkins...
, Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra...
, and Robert Taylor
Robert Taylor (actor)
Robert Taylor was an American film and television actor.-Early life:Born Spangler Arlington Brugh in Filley, Nebraska, he was the son of Ruth Adaline and Spangler Andrew Brugh, who was a farmer turned doctor...
, among others. Ferguson represented actress Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
for more than nineteen years. She kept reporters from needlessly disturbing Young and was considered one of the foremost "suppress agents" in Hollywood.
In 1941, her second husband died, and she retired from publicity work in 1967. She died in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
in 1977, aged 75. She is buried at Forest Lawn Glendale in Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Helen Ferguson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
for her contributions to Motion Pictures at 6153 Hollywood Blvd.
Filmography
- The End of the RoadThe End of the RoadThe End of the Road is a 1958 novel by the American writer John Barth. Its story follows Jacob Horner as he deals with an extreme case of psychological paralysis...
(1919) - Just PalsJust PalsJust Pals is a 1920 Western film directed by John Ford. It was Ford's first film for the Fox Film Corporation.-Cast:* Buck Jones - Bim* Helen Ferguson - Mary Bruce* George Stone - Bill* Duke R. Lee - Sheriff* William Buckley - Harvey Cahill...
(1920) - The Freeze-OutThe Freeze-OutThe Freeze-Out is a 1921 Western film directed by John Ford and starring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Ohio, the Stranger* Helen Ferguson - Zoe Whipple* Joe Harris - Headlight Whipple...
(1921) - Miss Lulu BettMiss Lulu BettMiss Lulu Bett is a 1920 novel by American writer Zona Gale, and later adapted for the stage. Gale received the 1921 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her work...
(1921) - Hungry Hearts (1922)
- The Famous Mrs. FairThe Famous Mrs. FairThe Famous Mrs. Fair is a silent drama film produced by Louis B. Mayer, distributed through Metro Pictures, and directed by Fred Niblo. The film is based on the Broadway play of the same name by James Forbes that had starred Blanche Bates in the 1919 theatre season. This is now considered a lost...
(1923) - Double Dealing (1923)
- The Scarlet West (1925)
- Wild WestWild West (serial)Wild West is a 1925 Western film serial directed by Robert F. Hill. This serial is considered to be a lost film.-Cast:* Jack Mulhall - Jimmy Whitehawk* Helen Ferguson - Polly Breen* Edward Burns - Colonel Hardcastle / Tom Osborne...
(1925) - The Fire FightersThe Fire FightersThe Fire Fighters is a 1927 action film serial directed by Jacques Jaccard. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Jack Dougherty - Jimmie Powers* Helen Ferguson - Mary Kent* Wilbur McGaugh* Lafe McKee* Al Hart * Florence Allen...
(1927) - In Old CaliforniaIn Old CaliforniaIn Old California may refer to:*In Old California , silent film by Biograph Studios and the first film shot in Hollywood, California*In Old California , film starring John WayneIn Old California may also refer to:...
(1929)