Helen Hayes | |
|---|---|
 Hayes in 1947 | |
| Born | Helen Hayes Brown October 10, 1900 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | March 17, 1993 (aged 92) Nyack, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1905–1987 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Mary MacArthur James MacArthur |
| Awards | American Theater Hall of Fame National Medal of Arts National Women's Hall of Fame Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Helen Hayes MacArthur (née Brown; October 10, 1900 – March 17, 1993)[1] was an American actress whose career spanned 82 years. She eventually received the nickname "First Lady of American Theatre" and was the second person and first woman to have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony Award (an EGOT). She was also the first person to win the Triple Crown of Acting. Hayes also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, from President Ronald Reagan in 1986.[2] In 1988, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts.
The annual Helen Hayes Awards, which have recognized excellence in professional theatre in greater Washington, D.C., since 1984, are her namesake. In 1955, the former Fulton Theatre on 46th Street in New York City's Theatre District was renamed the Helen Hayes Theatre. When that venue was torn down in 1982, the nearby Little Theatre was renamed in her honor. Helen Hayes is regarded as one of the greatest leading ladies of the 20th-century theatre.[3] A leading philanthropist in later decades, she was most proud of her 49-year association with the extraordinary Helen Hayes Hospital, a non-profit rehabilitative center overlooking the Hudson River in West Haverstraw, NY.
- ^ Helen Hayes at the Encyclopædia Britannica
- ^ Reagan, Ronald."Ronald Reagan: Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom – May 12, 1986" presidency.ucsb.edu, May 12, 1986, accessed August 27, 2011
- ^ "Helen Hayes: A Remembrance – Washington Theatre Guide – TheatreWashington – Helen Hayes Awards". Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved January 22, 2016.