Helen Morgan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Helen Morgan (August 2, 1900 โ October 9, 1941) was an American singer and actress who worked in films and on the stage. A quintessential torch singer, she made a big splash in the Chicago club scene in the 1920s. She starred as Julie LaVerne in the original Broadway production of Hammerstein and Kern's musical Show Boat in 1927, as well as in the 1932 Broadway revival of the musical, and appeared in two film adaptations, a part-talkie made in 1929 (prologue only) and a full-sound version made in 1936, becoming firmly associated with the role. She suffered from bouts of alcoholism, and despite her notable success in the title role of another Hammerstein and Kern's Broadway musical, Sweet Adeline (1929), her stage career was relatively short. Helen Morgan died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 41. She was portrayed by Polly Bergen in the Playhouse 90 drama The Helen Morgan Story and by Ann Blyth in the 1957 biopic based on the television drama. Morgan appeared in at least 15 films including Show Boat 1929, Applause 1929, Marie Galante 1934 and Show Boat 1936.
Known For
Credits
- 1985 ยทMusical Comedy Tonight IIIas
- 1981 ยทAmerican Popas Singer in Raided Nightclub (archive footage)
- 1936 ยทShow Boatas Julie LaVerne
- 1936 ยทFrankie and Johnnieas Frankie
- 1935 ยทGo Into Your Danceas Luana Wells
- 1935 ยทSweet Musicas Herself
- 1934 ยทMarie Galanteas MissTapia
- 1934 ยทYou Belong to Meas Bonnie Kay
- 1934 ยทHollywood on Parade No. B-1as
- 1931 ยทThe Gigolo Racketas Helen Marlowe
- 1930 ยทRoadhouse Nightsas Lola Fagan
- 1929 ยทGlorifying the American Girlas Self
- 1929 ยทApplauseas Kitty Darling
- 1929 ยทShow Boatas Julie LaVerne [prologue]
- 1923 ยทSix Cylinder Loveas Extra (uncredited)