Helen Lynch (April 6, 1900 – March 2, 1965) was an American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

actress, mainly known for her roles playing

gun moll A gun moll or gangster moll or gangster's moll is the female companion of a male professional criminal. "Gun" was British slang for thief, derived from Yiddish ''ganef'', from the Hebrew ''gannāb'' ( גנב). "Moll" is also used as a euphemism for ...

s and other morally dubious characters.

Biography

Lynch was born in 1900 in

Billings, Montana Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, with a population of 117,116 as of the 2020 census. Located in the south-central portion of the state, it is the seat of Yellowstone County and the principal city of the Billings Metrop ...

, where she was also raised. When she was one year old, her father died, and Lynch was raised along with her sister, Agnes, by their mother, Christian Fraser. When she was 9 years old, the family relocated 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, ...

, California, which at the time was a small suburb of

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

situated amongst orchards. After working as a film extra, Lynch was chosen as one of thirteen

WAMPAS Baby Stars The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. ...

in 1923. During her career, she was mostly cast in comedies, and often portrayed

s and other controversial female characters. She acted in a number of films throughout the 1920s and four small roles in the 1930s. It appears she returned one last time to the screen in the 1940 film ''

Women Without Names ''Women Without Names'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Robert Florey. Plot Cast * Ellen Drew as Joyce King * Robert Paige as Fred MacNeil * Judith Barrett as Peggy Athens * John Miljan as District Attorney John Marlin * ...

''. She was married to actor

Carroll Nye Robert Carroll Nye (October 4, 1901 – March 17, 1974) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1925 and 1944. His most memorable role was Frank Kennedy, Scarlett's second husband, in ''Gone with the Wind''. ...

. Lynch died in 1965 in

Miami Beach, Florida Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on natural and artificial island, man-made barrier islands between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the ...

Filmography

* '' Honor Bound'' (1920) * '' The House That Jazz Built'' (1921) *''

What's a Wife Worth? ''What's a Wife Worth?'' is a 1921 silent American melodrama film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Casson Ferguson, Ruth Renick, and Cora Drew. It was released on March 27, 1921. Cast list * Casson Ferguson as Bruce Morrison * Ruth Reni ...

'' (1921) * ''

My Lady Friends ''My Lady Friends'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Lloyd Ingraham and starring Carter DeHaven, Flora Parker DeHaven and Thomas G. Lingham.Munden p.531 It was based on the 1919 Broadway play of the same title by Frank Mandel ...

'' (1921) *'' Live and Let Live'' (1921) *''

Midnight Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date changes, on the local official clock time for any particular jurisdiction. By clock time, midnight is the opposite of noon, differing from it by 12 hours. ...

'' (1922) *''

Minnie As a first name, Minnie is a feminine given name. It can be a diminutive (hypocorism) of Minerva, Winifred, Wilhelmina, Hermione, Mary, Miriam, Maria, Marie, Naomi, Miranda, Clementine or Amelia. It may refer to: People with the given name * M ...

'' (1922) * ''

Fools First ''Fools First'' is a 1922 American crime film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by Marion Fairfax and Hugh Wiley. The film stars Richard Dix, Claire Windsor, Claude Gillingwater, Raymond Griffith, George Siegmann, and Helen Lynch. The fil ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Other Side The Other Side, Other Side, or Otherside may refer to: Film, television and radio Films * ''The Other Side'' (1931 film), a German film directed by Heinz Paul * ''The Other Side'' a 1999 film by director Peter Flinth * ''The Other Side'' (2000 f ...

'' (1922) * '' Glass Houses'' (1922) *''

The Eternal Three ''The Eternal Three'' is a 1923 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Goldwyn Pictures. It was directed by both Marshall Neilan and Frank Urson. Hobart Bosworth, Claire Windsor, and Bessie Love star. The film was made from a s ...

'' (1923) * ''

Cause for Divorce ''Cause for Divorce'' (german: Der Scheidungsgrund) is a 1937 Czech-German comedy drama film directed by Karel Lamač and starring Anny Ondra, Jack Trevor and Robert Dorsay Robert Dorsay (16 August 1904 – 29 October 1943) was a German ac ...

'' (1923) *''

The Dangerous Age ''The Dangerous Age'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by John M. Stahl and written by J.G. Hawks, Bess Meredyth, and Lenore Coffee. The film stars Lewis Stone, Cleo Madison, Edith Roberts, Ruth Clifford, Myrtle Stedman, and James ...

'' (1923) *''

The Meanest Man in the World Not to be confused with the 1920 George M. Cohan play or The Meanest Man in the World (1923 film) ''The Meanest Man in the World'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield, starring Jack Benny and Priscilla Lane, based upon a ...

'' (1923) *''

The Tomboy ''The Tomboy'' is a 1924 American silent comedy-drama film directed by David Kirkland and starring Herbert Rawlinson and Dorothy Devore. Plot As described in a review in a film magazine, Tommy Smith (Devore), the village tomboy, runs a boardin ...

'' (1924) * ''

The Valley of Hate ''The Valley of Hate'' is a 1924 American silent action film directed by Russell Allen and starring Raymond McKee, Helen Ferguson and Earl Metcalfe.Connelly p.427 Synopsis A young man in South Carolina inherits property in a valley he has never ...

'' (1924) * ''

American Manners ''American Manners'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by James W. Horne. It was produced by Richard Talmadge, who also stars, and was distributed by FBO. Preserved in the Library of Congress. Plot Cast * Richard Talmadge as R ...

'' (1924) * '' On Probation'' (1924) *'' Oh Doctor!'' (1925) *''

Three Weeks in Paris ''Three Weeks in Paris'' is a 1925 silent movie from Warner Bros. starring Matt Moore and Dorothy Devore. No copies are known to survive. Cast * Matt Moore as Oswald Bates *Dorothy Devore as Mary Brown *Willard Louis as Gus Billikins *Helen L ...

'' (1925) * ''

Smilin' at Trouble ''Smilin' at Trouble'' is a 1925 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Harry Garson and starring Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn, Helen Lynch and Kathleen Myers.Katchmer p. 293 Location shooting took place around San Pedro ...

'' (1925) * ''

Bustin' Thru ''Bustin' Thru'' (also written as ''Bustin' Through'') is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Clifford Smith and starring Jack Hoxie, Helen Lynch and William Bailey.Munden, p. 100. Synopsis Jack Savage refuses to sell his ranch t ...

'' (1925) *''

After Marriage ''After Marriage'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Norman Dawn and starring Margaret Livingston, George Fisher, and Helen Lynch Helen Lynch (April 6, 1900 – March 2, 1965) was an American silent film actress, mainly known ...

'' (1925) * '' Smouldering Fires'' (1925) *''

Fifth Avenue Models ''Fifth Avenue Models'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Svend Gade and starring Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, and Josef Swickard. It was produced and released by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a review in a film magazi ...

'' (1925) * ''

'' (1925) *''

Return of Grey Wolf ''Return of Grey Wolf'' is a 1926 silent film action adventure produced by William Steiner and released by an independent company, Ambassador. It stars a dog named 'Leader' and can be found on DVD from Grapevine Video. Cast *Leader the Dog - Gre ...

'' (1926) * ''

My Own Pal ''My Own Pal'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by John G. Blystone and written by Lillie Hayward. The film stars Tom Mix, Olive Borden, Tom Santschi, Virginia Marshall, Ben Bard, and William Colvin. The film was released on F ...

'' (1926) *''

The Arizona Sweepstakes ''The Arizona Sweepstakes'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Clifford Smith and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Plot As described in a film magazine review, a cowboy who goes to a ...

'' (1926) * '' Speeding Through'' (1926) * ''

Tom and His Pals ''Tom and His Pals'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Robert De Lacey and starring Tom Tyler, Doris Hill and Frankie Darro.Munden, p. 818 It was released in Britain under the alternative title of ...

'' (1926) *''

General Custer at the Little Big Horn ''General Custer at the Little Big Horn'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Harry L. Fraser and starring Roy Stewart. It depicts the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Cast * Roy Stewart as Lem Hawks * Helen Lynch as Betty Rossman ...

'' (1927) *''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

'' (1927) *''

Avenging Fangs ''Avenging Fangs'' is a 1927 American silent action film directed by Ernest Van Pelt and starring Kenneth MacDonald and Helen Lynch. It was a showcase for Sandow the Dog, a prospective rival for the popular Rin Tin Tin.Basinger p.453 Cast * ...

'' (1927) * ''

Cheaters Cheater or Cheaters may refer to: Arts and entertainment Films * ''The Cheaters'' (1930 film), an Australian silent film * ''Cheaters'' (1934 film), an American film directed by Phil Rosent * ''The Cheaters'' (1945 film), directed by Joseph Ka ...

'' (1927) * ''

Husbands for Rent ''Husbands for Rent'' is a 1927 American synchronized sound comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman and written by C. Graham Baker, Joseph Jackson and Jimmy Starr. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical ...

'' (1927) *'' Love and Learn'' (1928) *'' The Showdown'' (1928) *''

The Singing Fool ''The Singing Fool'' is a 1928 American musical drama part-talkie motion picture directed by Lloyd Bacon which was released by Warner Bros. The film stars Al Jolson and is a follow-up to his previous film, ''The Jazz Singer''. It is credited wit ...

'' (1928) * ''

In Old Arizona ''In Old Arizona'' is a 1928 American pre-Code Western film directed by Raoul Walsh and Irving Cummings, nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film, which was based on the character of the Cisco Kid in the 1907 story " ...

'' (1928) * ''

Ladies of the Mob ''Ladies of the Mob'' (1928) is a 1928 American silent film, silent Crime film, crime Drama (film and television), drama film directed by William A. Wellman, produced by Jesse L. Lasky and Adolph Zukor for Famous Players-Lasky, and distributed by ...

'' (1928) * '' Thundergod'' (1928) * ''

Romance of the Underworld ''Romance of the Underworld'' is a 1928 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by Irving Cummings and starring Mary Astor, it was based upon a stage play called ''A Romance of the Underworld'' by Pau ...

'' (1928) *'' Stolen Love'' (1928) *''

Speakeasy A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, or a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies. Speakeasy bars came into prominence in the United States d ...

'' (1929) * ''

Why Bring That Up? ''Why Bring That Up?'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical film directed by George Abbott and starring minstrel show comedians Charles Mack and George Moran, as blackface team Two Black Crows. The film's title was part of the "vernacular of th ...

'' (1929) * '' City Girl'' (1930) * ''

Emergency Call Most public switched telephone networks have a single emergency telephone number (sometimes known as the universal emergency telephone number or the emergency services number) that allows a caller to contact local emergency services for assista ...

'' (1933) * ''

Elmer and Elsie ''Elmer and Elsie'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by Gilbert Pratt and written by Humphrey Pearson. The film stars George Bancroft, Frances Fuller, Roscoe Karns, George Barbier, Nella Walker and Charles Sellon. The film was released on ...

'' (1934) * '' Hell-Ship Morgan'' (1936) *''

'' (1940)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Helen American film actresses American silent film actresses 1900 births 1965 deaths People from Billings, Montana Actresses from Montana 20th-century American actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars