Helen Shaw

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.

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. 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. She married Loren George Stauch (1892-1957) on April 22, 1918, in Birmingham and they had one daughter, Patricia Alliene Stauch (1924-2018), before divorcing in August 1935, with extreme cruelty being cited as Shaw's reason for seeking the divorce. 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. Shaw became active as a writer and director with the Theatre Americana of Altadena, and served as a writing coach for 30 years. 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 Year Title Role Notes 1980 Rape and Marriage: The Rideout Case Uncredited Television film 1984 Diff'rent Strokes Elderly lady Episode: "Arnold the Entrepreneur" 1985 Highway to Heaven Ethel Episode: “The Right Thing” 1985 Hell Town Ruthie Episode: "Hell Town Goes Bananas” 1989 The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson Herself October 5, 1989

Film Year Title Role Notes 1983 Twilight Zone: The Movie Mrs. Dempsy Segment: “Kick the Can” 1989 Wicked Stepmother Sadie 1989 Parenthood Grandma