She was born Helen Marion Walker on July 17, 1920 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Sadly her father died when she was just six years old leaving the family destitute. Soon after her mother suffered a nervous breakdown. Helen and her two sisters were raised by relatives. After high school she enrolled in Erskine School of Dramatics in Boston. She dropped out after one semester and joined a stock company. Then she landed the lead in the Broadway show Jason. In 1942 she was signed by Paramount made her film debut in Lucky Jordan. That same year she married Robert F. Blumofe, a film executive. The lovely blonde appeared in the films Brewster's Millions, Murder He Says, and Her Adventurous Night. Helen was very picky about the roles she accepted which earned her a reputation for being difficult. She also developed a serious drinking problem. Her marriage to Robert ended in 1946. Then on December 31, 1946 she was driving her car when it crashed. Unfortunately one of her passengers was killed.
Helen suffered numerous fractures and spent more than a month in the hospital. She was charged with manslaughter but she was acquitted of all charges. In late 1947 she returned to the screen with a role in the drama Nightmare Alley. Although her performance got good reviews the bad press from her car accident had hurt her reputation. Helen continued to get roles in films like Call Northside 777 and My Dear Secretary. On April 29, 1950 she married Edward Nicholas du Domaine, a forty-one year old furrier. They divorced two years later. By the late 1950s her movie career was over and she decided to quit acting. Her final role was in a 1960 episode of the television series Lock Up. Soon after her house was destroyed in a fire. Some of her famous friends staged a benefit to raise money for her Tragically in the early 1960s she was diagnosed with jaw cancer. On March 10, 1968 she died at the young age of forty-seven. She was buried with her father at
Oak Hill Cemetery in Sterling, Massachusetts.
