About Helen

Helen Twelvetrees was born Helen Marie Jurgens on December 25, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. Her early stage appearances led her to Hollywood as the silent era was dwindling. She married Clark Twelvetrees in 1927 and retained her married name for the duration of her career (despite divorcing him in 1931).  Many silent stars would not transition into talkies, either through their own resistance to the new medium or their inability to adapt. This proved advantageous for Helen, whose first film (with Fox Film Corporation), 1929’s The Ghost Talks placed her alongside notable actor Stepin Fetchit. Helen was eventually released by Fox after only three films and signed by Pathé (which, in turn, would be absorbed by RKO). Once at RKO, she was virtually overshadowed by new arrival Katherine Hepburn. Throughout the course of her career, she was habitually miscast, and her personal life became more unstable as time went on.

The 1930s offered a mixture of success and failure for Helen. She starred in films such as 1931’s Millie, 1932’s State’s Attorney (with John Barrymore), 1933’s Bedtime Story (with Maurice Chevalier), and a number of other films that paired her with the likes of Ricardo Cortez, Spencer Tracy, Alice Faye, and many others. By the end of the decade, she was relegated to B-Westerns and low-grade Crime films.

As the 1940s arrived, Helen favored stage over screen. Though she debuted on Broadway, the play (Boudoir, 1941) did not do well, and Helen faded into semi-anonymity with her 3rd husband Conrad Payne. She did take another shot at the stage in 1951 (A Streetcar Named Desire), though a fellow cast member later recalled that Helen had the saddest eyes she’d ever seen.

On February 13, 1958, Helen Twelvetrees was found unconscious and died from an “overdose of prescription medication given to her for a chronic kidney ailment.” Her death was officially ruled a suicide. She was 49 years old.

The Fund

Helen was cremated and buried in Middletown Cemetery, located in in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, not far from the Susquehanna River. Her modest funeral (which took place several months after her passing) was attended by only two people: her husband and a close friend. Over five decades have passed since her death; and to this day, her grave remains unmarked. Though a cemetery record has revealed the location of her plot, no one has ever come forward to lay a proper stone on Helen’s final resting place. Over the years, rumors have circulated that her cause of death (suicide) is the reason her grave has been posthumously ignored. Because we will never know the extent of Helen’s personal battles, it is unfair to pass judgment; rather, I believe Helen deserves to be remembered as an actress, friend, and above all, as a person.

I have recently been in contact with Middletown Cemetery in regards to marking Helen’s grave. Usually, such decisions are made by family, but because no one has shown interest in over 50 years, we have permission to place a stone.

Realistically, marking a gravesite can be a costly endeavor. The intentions may be honorable, but there is always a financial aspect to consider. That’s why I believe it is important to choose a stone that is both fitting and economically sensible. Below is a fairly accurate representation of how Helen’s stone will appear:

How You Can Help

A total of $400.00 USD will have to be raised in order to mark the grave. This covers the laying of a cement foundation (which begins two feet below the surface), the stone itself, and the engraving. Winter conditions prevent any activity until spring, which allows enough time to raise the necessary funds and organize everything with both the cemetery and the monument company responsible for crafting the stone. I have started a Helen Twelvetrees donation account on Paypal; 100% of the money collected will go directly into marking Helen’s grave. Anyone interesting in contributing can simply click the “Donate” button in the top-right sidebar of this page; the amount you give is entirely to your discretion. Please note: You will be redirected to Paypal to make your donation; when your transaction is complete, you will be brought back to this page. You do not need to create a Paypal account to donate. If you choose to participate, please remember to include your name and email so you can be acknowledged for your generosity! Updates will be provided along the way for all donors.

Thank you very much!

Gary Sweeney
The Midnight Palace