Helen Hanft

Helen Hanft (April 4, 1934 – May 30, 2013) was an American actress. Early life Hanft was born in the Bronx, the eldest of three daughters born to Esther and Benjamin Hanft. Her father was a prominent public relations executive for several national Jewish organizations. Her father persuaded her to audition for the High School of Performing Arts, now part of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and she was admitted. Career Hanft started her theatrical career in the early 1960s in the experimental theater movement at Off-Off-Broadway venues like La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Caffe Cino. She quickly became known as "the Ethel Merman of off-off-Broadway" for her comedic performances. Hanft often played eccentric, raunchy characters, and was featured in many plays by Tom Eyen, including: My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty! (1964) Frustrata (1964, 1965) The Demented World of Tom Eyen (1965) Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (1965, 1971, 1981) The White Whore and the Bit Player (1965; she also appeared in the Cannon Films adaptation) Sarah B. Divine! (1967) Who Killed My Bald Sister Sophie? (1969) What is Making Gilda So Gray? (1970) Women Behind Bars (1975) The Neon Woman (1978; co-starring Divine) Give My Regards to Off Off Broadway (1987) Areatha in the Ice Palace