biography
Born on July 17, 1920, in Worcester, Massachusetts, pretty Helen Walker aspired to be an actress from an early age. As a young adult, Walker made her
way to New York, landing a role on Broadway in the drama Jason in 1942. During the run of the play, she was spotted by Paramount talent scouts who
put her under contract in 1942 and soon cast her in a starring role in the noirish comedy Lucky Jordan (1942; with Alan Ladd
and Marie McDonald). Although she was being cast in starring roles, increasingly Walker became frustrated with the films offered to her, and she began turning
down scripts. Rather than putting her on suspension, which was the usual way studios punished actors when they refused parts, instead Paramount fired the actress outright. Walker turned
to freelancing in B movies such as the Republic mystery Murder in the Music Hall (1946; with Vera Ralston), before signing with 20th Century Fox in 1946.
Despite being dropped by Paramount, Walker seemed poised for a great film career. However, on December 31, 1946, she was driving to Los Angeles from Palm Springs and picked up a serviceman and two students who
were hitchhiking. She lost control of her convertible and flipped it, killing the serviceman and seriously injuring herself and the other two passengers.
Walker was released from the hospital in February 1947, but the ensuing publicity damaged her career. The two surviving passengers accused her of being drunk and
driving too fast. Eventually, Walker was acquitted of all charges, but her image was tainted in the public eye. A seemingly clever switch from girl-next-door roles
to femme fatales in such film noir thrillers as Impact (1949; with Brian Donlevy and Ella Raines) and Problem Girls
(1953; with Susan Morrow and Beverly Garland) failed to revive her career. |
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the films of helen walkerLucky Jordan (1942) 
LEFT: With Alan Ladd in Paramount's noir comedy Lucky Jordan. RIGHT: With Alan Ladd and Marie McDonaldAbroad with Two Yanks (1944) 
LEFT: As Joyce Stuart in the wartime comedy Abroad with Two Yanks. RIGHT: With costars Dennis O'Keefe and William BendixBrewster's Millions (1945)
From the comedy Brewster's Millions with Mischa Auer, June Havoc, Dennis O'Keefe, Gail Patrick, and Eddie 'Rochester' AndersonMurder, He Says (1945) 
LEFT: With Fred MacMurray in the Paramount comedy Murder, He Says. RIGHT: Walker as Claire MatthewsCluny Brown (1946)
From the 20th Century Fox romantic comedy Cluny Brown with Reginald Owen, Charles Boyer, Peter Lawford, Helen Walker, and Margaret BannermanHer Adventurous Night (1946)
With Herb Vigran and Dennis O'Keefe in the Universal comedy Her Adventurous NightPeople Are Funny (1946)
With Jack Haley, Phillip Reed, and Ozzie Nelson in the Paramount musical People Are FunnyNightmare Alley (1947) 
From the 20th Century Fox film noir classic Nightmare Alley. LEFT: Walker portrays psychologist Lilith Ritter. RIGHT: With carnie/mentalist Tyrone PowerMy Dear Secretary (1948) 
LEFT: With Kirk Douglas in the comedy My Dear Secretary, released by United Artists. RIGHT: With Keenan Wynn and Kirk DouglasImpact (1949)
From the film noir thriller ImpactMy True Story (1951) 
LEFT: As jewel thief Ann Martin in the Columbia film noir thriller My True Story. RIGHT: With Willard Parkerlater yearsAlthough she was a skilled actress, Walker's career floundered in the 1950s, and a series of personal tragedies effectively ended her acting career. Her two brief marriages ended in divorce. She was arrested for DUI in the mid 1950s, and in 1959, she was diagnosed with cancer. To add insult to injury, in 1960 her Hollywood home burned. A number of celebrities, including Ruth Roman and Dinah Shore, held a benefit for Walker to financially assist her. By this time, alcoholism was also taking a toll on her health, and beyond stage work, Walker's career was finished at the age of 40. Sadly, after battling cancer and alcoholism for years, Helen Walker passed away on March 10, 1968, at 47 years of age in North Hollywood. She was survived by her mother. |
filmographyFILM
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helen walker television appearanceshelen walker film now showing |
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