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Helen, who has played matriarch Nancy Hughes, since the program's inception, graduated from Monmouth College in Illinois earning degrees in dramatics and music. She later moved to New York where she continued her voice and piano training and gained experience as a soloist in various church choirs.

Helen has not only acted many theater production, but she has also performed in summer stock, at hospital benefits, and many Gilbert & Sullivan tours Her performances were not all limited to acting; she is accomplished singer having sung with the St. Louis Municipal Opera.

Helen made her television debut in the role of a queen in a fairy tale that GE produced on its experimental station in Schenectady, New York and later appeared in many dramatic television roles, including the productions of Studio One, Philco Radio Television, and Suspense. Helen was also in The World of Mr. Sweeny and ATWT simultaneously for 3 years.

In 1988, Monmouth College awarded Helen with an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. The following year, Helen chaired a national committee that raised more than one million dollars to replace the school's "little theater" with a state-of the art theater. On opening night in Monmouth's new theater, Helen reprised her role of Eleanor in The Lion In Winter.

A little known fact is that Helen was originally fired from ATWT by the late Irna Phillips , who was unhappy with Helen's portrayal of Nancy. After thirteen weeks however, a suitable replacement couldn't be found and Helen was rehired.

Helen is married to Broadway producer, Robert Willey. Her hobbies include reading, needlepoint, and knitting.

As The World Turns
Nancy Hughes McClosky
Original cast member; 1956 to Present

Rhe World of Mr. Sweeney
Marge Franklin
1954-59

Guiding Light
Trudy Bauer
1952

Sunny River

Oklahoma!

The Bad Seed

My Name is Acquilon

Love of Four Colonels

Streetcar Named Desire
Blanche

Lion in Winter
Eleanor
In Illinois

Lovers and Other Strangers
All female roles

Daytime Emmys Winner, Lifetime Acheivement Award (2005)

BIRTHDATE: Sept. 3, 1918
BIRTHPLACE: Lubbock, Texas
HAIR: Grey
MARITAL STATUS: Married, Robert Willey [Jun 21st, 1954]