Constance Towers

At A Glance

Constance Towers took over the role of Helena Cassadine in 1997. Her elegance, charisma, and beauty made it hard to believe that she was one of the most villainous women on daytime television. Although cold, calculating, and fabulously malicious, the matriarch of Port Charles' Cassadine family does in fact have a soft spot for her grandson Nikolas.

Constance had dreams as a child of one day being an opera singer and at the age of eleven, actually turned down a contract from Paramount Pictures. Her family then moved to New York where she attended both the Julliard School of Music and the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts. Her first professional role was in a summer production of Carousel, which inspired her to forget her operatic aspirations and pursue a career in musical theater. She is now a respected veteran of Broadway who is remembered most for her starring role as Mrs. Anna in the 1978 revival of The King and I. Ms. Towers' other stage appearances include The Sound of Music, Kiss, Me Kate, 42nd Street, Oklahoma!, Camelot and Mame.

Constance has been honored for her work on stage on many occasions. She won the New York Critic's Outer Circle Award for Excellence in Theater, the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts Achievement Award, and the Best Musical Actress of 1974 from the New Jersey Drama Critics Association. In addition to her numerous stage appearances, she is also an accredited actress in television and motion pictures. Her big screen debut came opposite John Wayne and William Holden in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers. Her recent films include A Perfect Murder with Gwyneth Paltrow, and The Relic. She has appeared on many television shows including a starring role on Capitol, and guest appearances on such series as L.A. Law, Designing Women, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Providence, Baywatch, and Frasier. She received an Emmy nomination for her dramatic performance in the Television Network special, Once in Her Life.

Constance has been married to John Gavin since 1974, and she has four children, Michael and Maureen McGrath, Cristina and Maria Gavin; and a grandson, Gavin Patrick McGrath. Through her husband's work as the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Constance has been able to be involved with numerous charitable organizations. After the 1985 Mexico City earthquake she founded Project Connie, an organization that offered aid to those in need of medical and rehabilitation assistance. To date, the organization has provided a new orphanage in Mexico City, adoption placements in U.S. homes for over 20 children from Mexico and El Salvador, and helped aid many devastated families in rebuilding their homes and helping them start new lives. In addition, Constance now sits on the boards of the Children's Bureau of California, the National Health Foundation, and The Red Cross and The Blue Ribbon of Los Angeles.

Constance Towers feels she had a wonderfully blessed life, both personally and professionally, and her greatest desire is to share those blessings with others all around the world. She is doing that through her acting and vocal gifts, and through her dedicated work with Project Connie.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

Providence Candice Whitman-Cromwell 2000 Kelly Kelly Kate 1998 General Hospital Helena Cassadine December 19, 1997 to April 9, 2002 ; October 16 to 17, 2003 ; December 24, 2003 ; January 16, 2004 to October 2004; January 2005; April to May 2005; October 2005; November 2005; January 2006; April 13, 2009 to April 21, 2009 ; June 4, 2009 ; September 30, 2009 to October 20, 2009 ; February 10, 2010 to August 6, 2010 ; June 27, 2011 to April 3, 2013 ; June 25, 2013 ; September 27, 2013 ; September 17, 2014 to February 20, 2015 ; July 9, 2015 Sunset Beach Julianna Deschanel 1997 The Young and The Restless Audrey North 1996 Capitol Clarissa McCandless 1982-1987 Caroline in the City Barbara 1995 Silk Stalkings Karen Krane 1994 Thunder in Paradise Cavanna 1994 Frasier Clarise 1994 Thunder in Paradise Cavanna 1994 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Ambassador Taxco 1993 Civil Wars 1992 Sidney Sheldon's The Sands of Time [TV Movie] 1992 2000 Malibu Road Camilla 1992 Baywatch Maggie James 1992 Memories of Midnight [Mini-Series] 1991 Matlock Alice Wyndemere 1991 Designing Women Louise Pollard 1990 Christine Cromwell 1989 MacGyver Francine Leyland Dalton 1989 Midnight Caller Teresa Chandler 1989 L.A. Law Charlotte Kelsey 1988, 1987 Murder, She Wrote Margaret Witworth 1987 On Wings of Eagles [Mini-Series] Margot Perot 1986 Capitol Clarissa McCandless 1982-1987 Fantasy Island Maggie Dunphy 1981 The Rockford Files Sally Packard 1979 Fantasy Island Shirley Forbush 1979 Hawaii Five-O Mrs. Thorncrest 1975 Love Is a Many Splendored Thing Marian Hiller 1971-1972 The Bell Telephone Hour Herself 1966 Perry Mason Leona Devore 1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Louise Menke 1965 The Outer Limits Laura James 1964 Perry Mason Joanne Pennington 1964 Perry Mason Natalie Graham 1964 Perry Mason Esther Metcalfe 1963 Perry Mason Jonny Baker 1961 Zane Grey Theater Beth Woodfield 1961 Adventures in Paradise Laura 1960 State Trooper 1957

Acting Portfolio: FILM

A Perfect Murder Sandra Bradford 1998 The Relic Mrs. Blaisedale 1997 Thunder in Paradise 3 Cavanna 1995 The Next Karate Kid Louisa 'Louisa-San' Pierce 1994 The Nutt House Mrs. Henderson 1992 Sylvester Muffy 1985 Fast Forward Jessie Granger 1985 The Naked Kiss Kelly 1964 Fate Is the Hunter Peg Burke 1964 Shock Corridor Cathy 1963

Sergeant Rutledge
Mary Beecher
1960

The Horse Soldiers
Hannah Hunter
1959

Bring Your Smile Along
Nancy Willows
1955

Acting Portfolio: THEATRE

The King and I At the Uris Theatre. Ari At the Mark Hellinger Theatre. The Engagement Baby At the Helen Hayes Theatre. Anya At the Ziegfeld Theatre.

Awards & Acclaim

Daytime Emmys Nomination, Television Network special, "Once in Her Life"

Vital Statistics

PLACE OF BIRTH: Whitefish, Montana

DATE OF BIRTH: May 20, 1933

HEIGHT: 5'8"

HAIR: White

EYES: Hazel

MARITAL STATUS: Married; John Gavin (1974)