Helen Shipman

Helen Phyllis Shipman (February 5, 1899 – April 13, 1984) was an American singer, dancer and actress who starred in various Broadway musicals, in musical comedies in vaudeville, and in films.

Early life and career Shipman was the daughter of William H. Shipman, a printer. She had a sister who was married to a "wealthy New York oil man." while he was in Hollywood performing in movies. Pawley had been a star on Broadway and was the first actor to portray Sinclair Lewis' Elmer Gantry character on the Broadway stage in 1928. Shipman effectively quit show business after their marriage and focused more attention on her other interests, such as gardening, the arts, reading and music. She was an active member of the fraternal order known as the Rosicrucians.

In 1951, when her husband left his starring role as 'Steve Wilson' on the very popular radio show, Big Town, they retired to Rappahannock County, Virginia. She died there of heart failure on April 13, 1984, at the age of 85. She did not have any children.

Helen Shipman has sometimes been confused with Helena Shipman who was born in the State of Washington and who married actor Robert Keith and had a son, Brian Keith, who became a famous actor in the movies and on TV. Helena Shipman was also a stage actress for a while, but never achieved the fame which Helen Shipman attained.

NOTE: Information contained in this article was taken from the book titled "Edward Joel Pawley: Broadway's Elmer Gantry, Radio's Steve Wilson, and Hollywood's Perennial Bad Guy", Outskirts Press, 2006, by Robert Gibson Corder, Ph.D.

Filmography