Helen Gallagher

Helen Gallagher (born July 19, 1926 in New York City) is an American actress, dancer and singer.

Related Topics:
July 19 - 1926 - New York City - American - Actress - Dancer - Singer

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For decades, Helen Gallagher was known as an actress in the New York stage. She appeared in, among other musicals, Hazel Flagg, High Button Shoes, and Sweet Charity. She was a thoroughgoing professional, albeit temperamental performer, who, according to Merv Griffin who appeared in a Broadway musical with her, for kicking an actor who tried to upstage her down into the orchestra pit. In 1952 she won a Tony Award for her work in the musical Pal Joey and she also won another Tony Award for her role in the revival of the musical No, No, Nanette, which also starred the late, fellow Irish Catholic hoofers Ruby Keeler and Patsy Kelly. Helen appeared in the movie Roseland opposite Christopher Walken. An aficionada of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she appeared on a special tribute episode of The Bell Telephone Hour.

Related Topics:
New York stage - Hazel Flagg - High Button Shoes - Sweet Charity - Merv Griffin - 1952 - Tony Award - Pal Joey - No, No, Nanette - Irish Catholic - Ruby Keeler - Patsy Kelly - Roseland - Christopher Walken - Rodgers and Hammerstein - The Bell Telephone Hour

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Despite her extensive work on Broadway, she is perhaps best known as the gentle Irish American matriarch, Maeve Ryan, on the soap opera Ryan's Hope, a role she played for the show's entire duration, from 1975 to 1989. Creator and head writer Claire Labine had much affection for the character of Maeve Ryan, and as such, focused much loving care and attention in crafting her development. As a result, Gallagher's motherly character quickly came to be portrayed as the heart and soul of the show. She was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the serial, winning in 1976, 1977, and 1988.

Related Topics:
Irish American - Soap opera - Ryan's Hope - 1975 - 1989 - Claire Labine - Daytime Emmy Award - 1976 - 1977 - 1988

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As the show progressed further into the 1980s, the ratings took a steep slide. When ABC executives decided to cancel Ryan's Hope, Claire Labine decided to end the final episode with Maeve at the family bar, Ryan's, singing her favorite tune, Danny Boy.

Related Topics:
1980s - ABC - Danny Boy

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Since the cancellation of Ryan's Hope, Gallagher has appeared in One Life to Live and in various Off-Broadway productions, although she considers herself in "semi-retirement".

Related Topics:
One Life to Live - Off-Broadway

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She is divorced from her only husband, Frank Wise, by whom she had several unsuccessful pregnancies.

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