Helen Shaw
Born(1897-07-25)July 25, 1897
Birmingham, Michigan, U.S.
DiedSeptember 8, 1997(1997-09-08) (aged 100)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, writing coach
Years active1904–1989
Spouse
Loren Stauch
​
​
(m. 1918; div. 1934)​
Children1

Helen Alliene Shaw (July 25, 1897 – September 8, 1997) was an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Mrs. Dempsey in the 1983 film Twilight Zone: The Movie and Steve Martin's grandmother in the 1989 comedy Parenthood. She was a humorous guest during her first and only appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[1]

Early life

Shaw was born on July 25, 1897, in Birmingham, Michigan, the daughter of Bertha Maud (née Crafts; 1873-1964) and Dr. Nenian Thomas Shaw (1867-1952), a Canadian-born physician.[2] Shaw studied medicine at one time and on February 17, 1923, was present in Egypt when Howard Carter unsealed the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun.[3] She married Loren George Stauch (1892-1957) on April 22, 1918, in Birmingham[4] and they had one daughter, Patricia Alliene Stauch (1924-2018),[5] before divorcing in August 1935, with extreme cruelty being cited as Shaw's reason for seeking the divorce.[6] In her 1989 appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson she mentioned the marriage as being brief and commented on how couples need to be well paired for one to work.[1]

Career

In 1938, Shaw, along with her parents and daughter, moved to southern California.[7] Shaw became active as a writer and director with the Theatre Americana of Altadena,[8] and served as a writing coach for 30 years.[9] She later took stage acting roles at the Theatre Americana and the Glendale Centre Theatre. Then, at the age of 82, she became a professional actress. Her first notable role was in the television movie Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case in 1980, which was followed by several additional appearances in film and television.

Death

Shaw died on September 8, 1997, a month and a half after her 100th birthday, in Los Angeles and was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, under the name Helen Shaw Stauch.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Rape and Marriage: The Rideout CaseUncreditedTelevision film
1984Diff’rent StrokesElderly ladyEpisode: "Arnold the Entrepreneur"
1985Highway to HeavenEthelEpisode: “The Right Thing”
1985Hell TownRuthieEpisode: "Hell Town Goes Bananas”
1989The Tonight Show with Johnny CarsonHerselfOctober 5, 1989

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983Twilight Zone: The MovieMrs. DempsySegment: “Kick the Can”
1989Wicked StepmotherSadie
1989ParenthoodGrandma

References

  1. 1 2 The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson; October 5, 1989: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXqRvO6QJ-I
  2. ↑ U.S. Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Bloomfield, Oakland, Michigan; Roll: T624_668; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0119; FHL microfilm: 1374681
  3. ↑ The Los Angeles Times; April 26, 1990, Page J3: Pick of the Week
  4. ↑ Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952; Film: 140; Film Description: 1918 Kent-1918 Saginaw
  5. ↑ "Patricia Stauch Sias Obituary (1924 - 2018) the Seattle Times". Legacy.com.
  6. ↑ Michigan Department of Community Health, Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics; Lansing, Michigan; Michigan. Divorce records
  7. ↑ Detroit Free Press, September 22, 1942, Page 10: Happily Ever After
  8. ↑ The Los Angeles Times; July 22, 1952; Page 34: Pasadena club Council Will Sponsor Breakfast
  9. ↑ Monrovia News-Post; August 19, 1987; Page 6: Helen Shaw – still vivacious at age 90
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