Helen Beverley
Encyclopedia
Helen Beverley, sometimes credited as Helen Beverly, (November 9, 1916 – July 15, 2011) was an American
film and stage actress, who began her career in Yiddish theater and films.
Beverley began her career in Yiddish theater and the Yiddish-language films, including a starring role in Peretz Hirshbein
's Green Fields
in 1937. Screenwriter
Hirshbein adapted the film from his 1916 play of the same name and cast Beverley in the lead role. The National Center of Jewish Cinema has praised Green Fields, saying the film "heralded the Golden Age of Yiddish cinema."
She next starred in The Light Ahead, a 1939 film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and filmed in New Jersey
. She also appeared in the 1940 Yiddish film, Overture to Glory about a cantor
. Her sole Broadway role was in Clean Beds in 1939.
Beverley began appearing in mainstream English language
Hollywood films during the 1940s. her credits from this period included Black Magic
in 1944; The Master Race, a 1944 film about the dangers of Nazi Germany
; and Stairway for a Star, a 1947 musical co-starring Cornel Wilde
. She continued to appear in smaller film roles during the 1950s, including The Robe
in 1953 and The Shrike
in 1955. She appeared in an episode of the television series, The Rifleman
, in 1960. Her last film appearance was in Ada
, a 1961 movie starring Susan Hayward
and Dean Martin
.
, whom she married in 1940; they divorced during the 1950s. Their daughter, Julie Cobb
, is a retired actress.
in Woodland Hills, California, on July 15, 2011, aged 94. She was survived by her daughter, and a granddaughter.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film and stage actress, who began her career in Yiddish theater and films.
Beverley began her career in Yiddish theater and the Yiddish-language films, including a starring role in Peretz Hirshbein
Peretz Hirshbein
Peretz Hirshbein was a Yiddish-language playwright, instrumental in the revival of Yiddish theater in Russia shortly after the 1904 lifting of the 1883 ban on theatrical performances in that language...
's Green Fields
Green Fields (film)
Green Fields is a 1937 American comedy-drama directed by Jacob Ben-Ami and Edgar G. Ulmer and written by Peretz Hirschbein. A film adaptation of Hirschbein's 1916 play of the same name, the low-budget movie was filmed in New Jersey...
in 1937. Screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
Hirshbein adapted the film from his 1916 play of the same name and cast Beverley in the lead role. The National Center of Jewish Cinema has praised Green Fields, saying the film "heralded the Golden Age of Yiddish cinema."
She next starred in The Light Ahead, a 1939 film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and filmed in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She also appeared in the 1940 Yiddish film, Overture to Glory about a cantor
Cantor
Cantor is surname of:* Andrés Cantor , Spanish-language soccer announcer* Anthony Cantor , British diplomat* Arthur Cantor , American theatrical producer* Aviva Cantor , American journalist, lecturer and author...
. Her sole Broadway role was in Clean Beds in 1939.
Beverley began appearing in mainstream English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
Hollywood films during the 1940s. her credits from this period included Black Magic
Black Magic (1944 film)
Black Magic, later retitled Meeting at Midnight for television, is a 1944 mystery film starring Sidney Toler as Charlie Chan.-Plot:...
in 1944; The Master Race, a 1944 film about the dangers of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
; and Stairway for a Star, a 1947 musical co-starring Cornel Wilde
Cornel Wilde
Cornel Wilde was an American actor and film director.-Early life:Kornél Lajos Weisz was born in 1912 in Prievidza, Hungary , although his year and place of birth are usually and inaccurately given as 1915 in New York City...
. She continued to appear in smaller film roles during the 1950s, including The Robe
The Robe (film)
The Robe is a 1953 American Biblical epic film that tells the story of a Roman military tribune who commands the unit that crucifies Jesus. The film was made by 20th Century Fox and is notable for being the first film released in the widescreen process CinemaScope.It was directed by Henry Koster...
in 1953 and The Shrike
The Shrike (film)
The Shrike is a 1955 film based on the Joseph Kramm's play, The Shrike. José Ferrer directed and starred in Ketti Frings' screenplay adaptation.-Characters and story:...
in 1955. She appeared in an episode of the television series, The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is an American Western television program that starred Chuck Connors as homesteader Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show, filmed in black-and-white with a half hour running time, ran...
, in 1960. Her last film appearance was in Ada
Ada (film)
Ada is a 1961 political drama film made by Avon Productions and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Daniel Mann and produced by...
, a 1961 movie starring Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward was an American actress.After working as a fashion model in New York, Hayward travelled to Hollywood in 1937 when open auditions were held for the leading role in Gone with the Wind . Although she was not selected, she secured a film contract, and played several small supporting...
and Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
.
Family
Beverley was the first wife of actor Lee J. CobbLee J. Cobb
Lee J. Cobb was an American actor. He is best known for his performance in 12 Angry Men his Academy Award-nominated performance in On the Waterfront and one of his last films, The Exorcist...
, whom she married in 1940; they divorced during the 1950s. Their daughter, Julie Cobb
Julie Cobb
Julie Cobb is a longtime American actress, the daughter of actor Lee J. Cobb and actress Helen Beverley. At one point, she was a Playboy Bunny....
, is a retired actress.
Death
Helen Beverley died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and HospitalMotion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital
The Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital is a retirement community, with individual cottages, and a fully licensed, acute-care hospital, located at 23388 Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California...
in Woodland Hills, California, on July 15, 2011, aged 94. She was survived by her daughter, and a granddaughter.