Helen Craig (May 13, 1912 – July 20, 1986) was an American actress, perhaps best known for her role on Broadway as the main character, Belinda, in '' Johnny Belinda''.

Early years

The daughter of copper executive Edward A. Craig, Helen Craig was born on May 13, 1912 in San Antonio, Texas. She had a sister, Marian, and two brothers, Robert and Edward Jr.

Television

As well as films, Craig appeared in numerous plays, and on television she had frequent appearances in ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book ''Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 film ...

'', ''

Kojak ''Kojak'' is an American action crime drama television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theodopolis "Theo" Kojak. Taking the time slot of the popular ''Cannon'' series, it ...

'' and ''

The Bionic Woman ''The Bionic Woman'' is an American science fiction action-adventure television series created by Kenneth Johnson based on the 1972 novel ''Cyborg'' by Martin Caidin, starring Lindsay Wagner that aired from January 14, 1976, to May 13, 1978. ' ...

''.

Stage

Craig was "a graduate of the Orson Welles' celebrated Mercury Theatre". Her

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

credits include ''Russet Mantle'' (1936), ''Soliloquy'' (1938), '' The Unconquered'' (1940), ''Johnny Belinda'' (1940), ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has b ...

'' (1941), ''

Lute Song The term lute song is given to a music style from the late 16th century to early 17th century, late Renaissance to early Baroque, that was predominantly in England and France. Lute songs were generally in strophic form or verse repeating with a h ...

'' (1946), ''Land's End'' (1946), ''

The House of Bernarda Alba ''The House of Bernarda Alba'' ( es, La casa de Bernarda Alba) is a play by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. Commentators have often grouped it with ''Blood Wedding'' and ''Yerma'' as a "rural trilogy". Garcia Lorca did not include ...

'' (1951), ''Diamond Orchid'' (1965), and ''

More Stately Mansions ''More Stately Mansions'' is a play by Eugene O'Neill. Originally intended to be part of a nine-play cycle entitled ''A Tale of Possessors Self-Dispossessed'', ''Mansions'' was an incomplete rough draft written between 1936 and 1939 that O'Neill ...

'' (1967). Her work in ''Johnny Belinda'' required her to learn sign language, which she used throughout the play as she portrayed the deaf title character. She also had to learn to not react to lines spoken by other actors in the play. Preparation for the role included four weeks' study with a teacher who read the script and taught Craig the appropriate signs.

Personal life

Craig was married to actor John Beal from 1934 until her death. They had two daughters, Theodora Emily and Tandy Johanna.

Death

Craig died of cardiac arrest on July 20, 1986 in New York City, aged 74.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Snake Pit ''The Snake Pit'' is a 1948 American psychological drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Beulah Bondi, and Lee Patrick. Based on Mary Jane Ward's 1946 semi-autobiographi ...

'' (1948) * '' They Live by Night'' (1948) * ''

The Sporting Club ''The Sporting Club'' is the 1968 debut novel of author Thomas McGuane. Plot summary ''The Sporting Club'' chronicles the friendship and rivalry of Vernor Stanton, an unstable patrician iconoclast, and the protagonist, Stanton's lifelong friend, J ...

'' (1971) * ''

Rancho Deluxe ''Rancho Deluxe'' is a 1975 Neo-Western comedy film directed by Frank Perry. Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston star as two cattle rustlers in modern-day Livingston, Montana, who plague a wealthy ranch owner, played by Clifton James. The film als ...

'' (1975) * ''

The Legend of Lizzie Borden ''The Legend of Lizzie Borden'' is a 1975 American historical mystery television film directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Elizabeth Montgomery—in an Emmy-nominated performance—as Lizzie Borden, an American woman who was accused of murdering ...

'' (1975) * ''

Heroes Heroes or Héroes may refer to: * Hero, one who displays courage and self-sacrifice for the greater good Film * ''Heroes'' (1977 film), an American drama * ''Heroes'' (2008 film), an Indian Hindi film Gaming * ''Heroes of Might and Magic'' ...

'' (1977)

References

External links

* 1912 births 1986 deaths Actresses from San Antonio American film actresses American stage actresses American television actresses 20th-century American actresses {{US-actor-stub