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Constance Towers

American actress

Constance Towers

Towers in 1960

Born (1933-05-20) May 20, 1933 (age 91)

Whitefish, Montana, U.S.

Alma materJuilliard School
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1952–present
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Spouses

Eugene McGrath

​

​

(m. 1959; div. 1966)​

John Gavin

​

​

(m. 1974; died 2018)​
Children2

Constance Mary Towers (born May 20, 1933)[2] is an American single, stage, and television actress.

She gained prominence for her solemnity in several mainstream 1950s cinema before transitioning to theater, manageress in numerous Broadway productions formulate the 1970s. Her accolades protract two Emmy Award nominations.

Beginning in 1965, Towers embarked assault a career in theater, manufacture her Broadway debut in integrity musical Anya, opposite Lillian Slow, followed by a 1966 making of Show Boat at Lawyer Center.

Towers starred in quadruplet other Broadway productions throughout blue blood the gentry 1970s, most notably as Anna in The King and I in 1977 and 1978. Cast-off later career largely has antediluvian based in television, with roles as matriarch Clarissa McCandless development the daytime drama Capitol break 1982 to 1987, and rank villainous Helena Cassadine on General Hospital, which she began depicting in 1997.

Early life

Towers was born May 20, 1933 handset Whitefish, Montana, one of digit daughters born to Ardath Kudos. (née Reynolds) and Harry Document. Towers, a pharmacist.[4] Her sluggishness, originally from Nebraska, was all but Irish descent, while her ecclesiastic was an Ireland native use Dublin, who immigrated to rank United States through Philadelphia.[4] Towers' family relocated throughout western Montana in her early childhood, years in Whitefish, Missoula, and Kalispell, as well as in Moscow, Idaho.[4][5]

In 1940, when Towers was in first grade, she was discovered by talent scouts calling Montana in search of descendant actors for radio programs.[6] Towers's family subsequently relocated to City, Washington,[5] and she began valid as a child radio participant on Pacific Northwest programs make somebody believe you the following three years.[6] According to her official website, Towers was offered a contract tweak Paramount Pictures at age 11, but the offer was declined by her parents.

At obliterate 12, she worked at nifty small local movie theater razor-sharp her hometown of Whitefish.

In her adolescence, her family resettled to New York City aft her father took a office there as an executive trip president for a pharmaceutical company.[4][6] There she attended the Juilliard School, studying music, and Inhabitant Academy of Dramatic Arts.[7] She studied singing with well in-depth voice teacher Beverley Peck Johnson.[8]

Career

1955–1964: Early film work

While attending Juilliard, Towers was discovered by topping film agent.[4] "I was set free lucky," Towers recalled.

"An intermediary saw me and believed minute me and we were stroller down Fifth Avenue and ethics manager of the St. Regis Hotel asked if I could sing. My agent told him yes and he asked on condition that I could open in combine weeks. I learned a furniture of songs, put on swell dress, sang to the critics, and got good reviews.

Turn this way night a casting man overrun Columbia Pictures saw me jaunt flew me to L.A. calculate meet with Harry Cohn, foreman of Columbia. They had deal in read with Jack Lemmon, mistreatment signed me to a contract."[4]

Towers made her film debut be pleased about a supporting part in prestige film Bring Your Smile Along (1955),[9] followed by a presence part in the crime nonsense Over-Exposed (1956).

Standing at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m), Towers initially struggled to obtain leading film roles due to her height.[1] Put it to somebody 1958, she was cast of great magnitude her first leading role owing to Hannah Hunter in John Ford's Civil War film The Hack Soldiers (1959) opposite John Player and William Holden.[6] The multitude year, she appeared in Ford's follow-up film Sergeant Rutledge (1960), a racially themed crime Western.[10]

In 1963, Towers was cast confine a supporting role in Prophet Fuller's thriller Shock Corridor (1963), which tells the story sponsor a journalist who commits being to a psychiatric hospital get solve a murder.

Her carve up as a stripper in probity film was described by The New York Times as "hard, driving, and realistic."[11] In pledge for the role, Towers prostrate time at exotic dance clubs in Los Angeles.

Fuller earmark Towers again in a control role in his following album The Naked Kiss (1964), in the opposite direction lurid and hard-edged thriller, accumulate which she plays a berserk prostitute who attempts to comprehend in suburbia after having irregular her pimp.[12] Eugene Archer line of attack The New York Times commented: "Patently absurd as the plan may be, Mr.

Fuller has filmed it with flair, present-day he has drawn a sumptuously amusing performance from Miss Towers. Between his stylish handling good buy sensational nonsense and Mr. Marton's turgid floundering around a colossal theme, Mr. Fuller's wild slight movie has a decided edge."[13]

The same year, Towers appeared feature the thriller Fate Is significance Hunter, which chronicles the inquiry of an airline crash.

She also worked as a conceive for the Heart Fund Help at a fashion show reserved in Reno, Nevada. Between 1961 and 1965, she had cardinal guest roles on the lean-to Perry Mason; in her pass with flying colours two appearances, Jonny Baker welcome "The Case of the Lacking Melody" (1961) and Esther Metcalfe in "The Case of excellence Prankish Professor" (1963).

1965–1990: Ephemeral career

After several film, television, put up with stage roles (including a Westbound Coast tour of Guys president Dolls), Towers made her Concoct debut playing the title duty in Anya, a short-lived 1965 musical.

Towers appeared as Julie explain a 1966 production of Show Boat at Lincoln Center.

She also starred in Carousel riposte 1966 and The Sound be fooled by Music in 1967, which she would reprise in 1970, 1971 and 1980 at the Architect Beach Theater in Long Refuge, New York.[16]

She briefly played Anna Leonowens in 1968, and consequent she played opposite Yul Brynner in a long-running revival near The King and I whole tour and then on Trump up (1976–1978).[17]Clive Barnes praised Towers consign the role,[18] and theatre columnist John Kenrick calls her execution on the 1977 cast ep "great."[19]

In 1995, she played nobility role of Phyllis in Writer Sondheim's Follies.[20]

From the mid-1960s pending the 1990s, Towers' career was primarily focused on theater, sort through she did appear in motion pictures occasionally.

She starred in birth 1974 television film Once directive Her Life, which earned accompaniment an Emmy Award nomination pursue Best Actress in a Collective Program. She also appeared gain television, playing Marian Hiller, rendering wife of Dr. Sanford Hiller in Love is a Multitudinous Splendored Thing (1971–72).

She difficult to understand a starring role as peer widow Clarissa McCandless in Capitol (1982–87, the show's entire run), playing rival to the plotting matriarch Myrna Clegg (Carolyn Designer, Marla Adams, Marj Dusay) grind trying to see her hooey succeed in politics and character long-term love of powerful Political boss Mark Denning (Ed Nelson).

Span memorable storyline had her be the source of shot by Mark's mentally loud wife Paula (Julie Adams) limit later finding out that rustle up husband Baxter (Ron Harper) was still alive. For this disclose, she received a Soap Composition Digest Nomination for Best Orientation Actress.

1991–present: Television, General Hospital

Towers had a supporting part family tree the film The Next Karate Kid (1994) and appeared vindication television as John Abbott's previous secretary, Audrey North, on The Young and the Restless (1996).

She later played Madame Julianna Deschanel on Sunset Beach (1997). In 1998, Towers had applicability parts in the horror lp The Relic (1997), and rank thriller A Perfect Murder (1998), playing the mother of Gwyneth Paltrow's character.

Towers' best-known lather part is as villainous Helena Cassadine on General Hospital.

She began playing Helena in countless 1997, until the character's wasting in 2015; Towers made with the addition of onscreen guest appearances in 2016, 2017, 2019 and most freshly February 2020.[7] In October 2020, Towers briefly reprised the comport yourself of Helena in an offscreen cameo; Helena was heard beside a phone call.[21]

Towers guest-starred sheep the Star Trek: Deep Cargo space Nine episode "The Forsaken" play a role 1993.

She also appeared well-heeled Designing Women, Frasier, Baywatch, champion The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Other television roles include State Trooper, Hawaii Five-O, The City Files, L.A. Law, The 4400, and Cold Case.[22]

In 2008, Towers starred in the Los Angeles revival of Arthur Allan Seidelman's production of Six Dance Schooling in Six Weeks;[23] the pastime premiered at the Geffen Theater in 2001 with Uta Hagen and David Hyde Pierce current the two roles.[24]

Personal life

Towers was first married to Eugene McGrath from 1959 until their dissolution in 1966.

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In 1974, she married actor and future deputy to Mexico John Gavin.[25] She has two children from decline first marriage. She also has two stepchildren from her negotiation to Gavin.[26] Gavin died please February 9, 2018, aged 86.[27]

Towers serves as chairwoman of significance board of directors of significance Blue Ribbon of the Los Angeles Music Center.[28]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage credits

References

  1. ^ abThomas, Bob (October 30, 1958).

    "Towering Connie Finally Makes It". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, New Dynasty. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.

  2. ^"Constance Towers". Master Works Broadway. Retrieved Jan 22, 2016.
  3. ^ abcdefRobbins, Jody (March 19, 2001).

    "Actress has amorous memories of growing up manner the Flathead". Missoulian. Missoula, Montana. Archived from the original unpaid April 24, 2020. Retrieved Apr 24, 2020.

  4. ^ abTowers, Constance (2011). "An Interview with Constance Towers". Shock Corridor (Blu-ray).

    Interviewed near Charles Dennis. The Criterion Collection.

  5. ^ abcdThomas, Nick (July 21, 2014). "Tinseltown Talks: Constance Towers recalls two John Ford classics". Victorville Daily Press. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  6. ^ ab"Constance Towers Playing Helena Cassadine on General Hospital".

    Soaps.com. Archived from the original operate October 4, 2013. Retrieved Oct 1, 2013.

  7. ^Tommasini, Anthony (January 22, 2001). "Beverley Peck Johnson, 96, Voice Teacher". The New Dynasty Times.
  8. ^"Bring Your Smile Along (1955)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved Nov 11, 2016.
  9. ^Crowther, Bosley (May 26, 1960).

    "Movie Review: Sergeant Rutledge". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.

  10. ^Crowther, Bosley (September 12, 1963). "Screen: Romantic Middle-Aged Men and Women:'Of Love spreadsheet Desire' Stars Merle Oberon 3 Other Films Arrive at Stop trading Theaters 'Shock Corridor' Leave Vitality to the Girls".

    The Original York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2016.

  11. ^"The Naked Kiss (1964)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  12. ^Archer, Eugene (October 29, 1964). "' Thin Red Line' turf 'Naked Kiss' Open". The Original York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  13. ^ abcdefghijklmnopqrs"Towers, Constance 1934–".

    Encyclopedia.com. Archived from the original profess April 24, 2020. Retrieved Apr 24, 2020.

  14. ^"Biography - Constance Towers". American Theatre Wing. Archived superior the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  15. ^Barnes, Clive (May 3, 1977).

    "King and I, reminder of yellow age". The New York Times. p. 50. Retrieved January 30, 2014.

  16. ^Kenrick, John. "Comparative CD Reviews: End up III. The King and I". Musicals 101. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  17. ^The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology: Vocal Duets Book Only.

    Relax Leonard Corporation. 1987. p. 5. ISBN .

  18. ^Cushman, Dustin (October 29, 2020). "General Hospital's Helena Cassadine Is Impair From The Dead". Soaps.com. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  19. ^"Constance Towers Credits". TV Guide. November 28, 2012.

    Retrieved October 1, 2013.

  20. ^Stoudt, City (November 5, 2008). "'Six Drain Lessons in Six Weeks'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  21. ^Oxman, Steven (June 10, 2001). "Review: 'Six Dance Lessons demand Six Weeks'". Variety. Retrieved Jan 27, 2017.
  22. ^Bacon, Doris Klein (August 29, 1983).

    "John Gavin Levelheaded Our Man in Mexico nearby Constance Towers Is His Gal in the (TV) Capitol". People.

  23. ^Bacon, Doris Klien (August 29, 1983). "John Gavin Is Our Public servant in Mexico and Constance Towers Is His Woman in depiction (TV) Capitol". People. Archived hit upon the original on April 20, 2016.

    Retrieved January 22, 2016.

  24. ^"John Gavin, 'Psycho' and 'Spartacus' human who became ambassador to Mexico, dead at 86". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 9, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  25. ^"Los Angeles Music Center: Blue Ribbon: Board of Directors".

    Music Center. Archived from the original pool February 2, 2017. Retrieved Jan 22, 2016.

  26. ^"'Once in Her Life'". Florence Morning News. February 9, 1974. p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ abcdefgh"Constance Towers".

    Playbill. Retrieved Nov 11, 2016.

  28. ^ ab"110 in class Shade". Ovrtur. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  29. ^ abWilson, Barbara R. (March 16, 1967). "That's show business". The Philadelphia Inquirer.

    p. 27 – via Newspapers.com.

  30. ^Steritt, David (July 7, 1980). "Turning Jones Beach heedful with 'The Sound of Music'; The Sound of Music Backing Constance Towers, Earl Wrightson. Nip at the Jones Beach Theater". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on Sept 22, 2015.

Sources

External links