Helen Hughes (January 8, 1918 - April 3, 2018) was an American-Canadian actress who has worked in theatre, television, and film.
Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Hughes did some acting while attending college; however, her undergraduate degree (from Indiana State Teacher's College, class of 1940) and her graduate study (at Penn State) were both focused on art education.
She became a permanent resident of Canada in 1972. Her move resulted from acting opportunities, when she performed in 10 weeks of summer theatre in Canada. "I discovered that I loved Canada", she said. A contributing factor in the decision was that her marriage had broken up. With her children grown, she felt free to make a change.
Hughes was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award in 1986. She made her last appearance at age 96, as a guest actress in the TV series Sensitive Skin.
In 1980, Hughes starred in The 75th at the Lunchbox Theatre. in Alberta, Canada.
At the 10th Genie Awards in 1989, she received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film Martha, Ruth and Edie.
Hughes also made TV commercials for American Express, Anacin, and one for Heinz ketchup that ran for about three years.
On April 3, 2018, Hughes died in Toronto, Ontario, at age 100 of natural causes.