Helen Ferguson (23 July, 1900 {also said to be
1901} - 14 March, 1977)
was an American
actress later turned publicist.
Born in
Decatur,
Illinois
, she was a
graduate of the Nicholas High School of Chicago and the Academy of
Fine Arts. Ferguson was a newspaper reporter before entering
the motion picture field.
It is thought she made her debut in films in 1914, although her
first recorded credits are in 1917. She soon starred in roles for
Fox Film Corporation by 1920,
which is when her career really took off. She was cast mostly in
westerns, comedies, and serials. She was selected one of the
WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1922.
She married actor
William Russell in 1925,
but he died in 1929. The following year, she married wealthy banker
Richard L. Hargreaves. Following her second marriage, she left
films to concentrate on stage work, though she only received
minimal success in this medium.
In 1933,
she left acting altogether to focus on publicity work, a job she
became very successful in and which made her a major power in
Hollywood
, due to the fact that she was representing such big
name stars as Henry Fonda, Barbara Stanwyck, and Robert Taylor, among others.
Ferguson represented actress
Loretta
Young for more than nineteen years.
She kept reporters
from needlessly disturbing Young and was considered one of the
foremost suppress agents in Hollywood.
In 1941, her second husband died, and she retired from publicity
work in 1967.
She died
in Clearwater,
Florida
in 1977. She is buried at Forest Lawn
Glendale
in Glendale, California
.
Helen
Ferguson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
for her contributions to Motion Pictures at 6153
Hollywood Blvd.
References
- Oakland Tribune, Helen Ferguson to Wed Veteran Film
Star, June 21, 1925, Page 1.
- Pasadena Independent Star-News, Loretta Young, March
6, 1960, Page 86.
Filmography
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