Helen Burgess
| Helen Burgess | |
|---|---|
Burgess in a 1936 headshot
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| Born |
April 26, 1916 Portland, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 1937 (aged 20) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lobar pneumonia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1936–1937 |
| Spouse(s) | Herbert Rutherford (m. 1937) |
Helen Margarite Burgess (April 26, 1916 – April 7, 1937) was an American film actress. Discovered by Cecil B. DeMille, she began her acting career in 1936 at age nineteen, playing Louisa Cody in DeMille's Western biopic The Plainsman. She would appear in four films as a contract player for Paramount Pictures before dying at age twenty.
Burgess was born in Portland, Oregon in 1916, the daughter of Frank T. and Estella "Fanny" L. (née Hayden) Burgess. Her father worked as a district agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York. She had one younger sister, Mary. Burgess spent her early life in Portland, later relocating to Tacoma, Washington when her father's job was transferred to Seattle.
She attended the Annie Wright School in Tacoma, and was described as a shy child. In 1926, the family relocated again to Los Angeles, California, where Burgess attended Los Angeles High School and later University High School. She later attended Clark's Los Angeles Dramatic School with aspirations to become a stage actress.
While starring in a play in Los Angeles, titled The Seventh Year, Burgess was approached by Jack Murton, a talent scout for Paramount Pictures. While visiting the studio, she was approached by Cecil B. DeMille, who at the time was looking to cast a supporting part in The Plainsman (1936). Burgess auditioned for the part of Louisa Cody, opposite James Ellison, and was cast by DeMille. DeMille was quoted on his casting of Burgess: "I broke a rule of 25 years' standing when I chose Miss Burgess for the part of Louisa Cody. It was the first time that I have cast a player without previous screen experience in an important role. But, as soon as I saw Miss Burgess, I realized that she had the making of a strong and appealing screen personality."
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