Helen Westcott

Helen Westcott
Helen Westcott
	Westcott in 1950
Born	Myrthas Helen Hickman; January 1, 1928; Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	March 17, 1998 (aged 70); Edmonds, Washington, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1934–1977
Spouses	; Don Gordon (m. 1948; div. 1953) ; Joseph Johnson-Smith (m. 1975; died 1981)
Children	1
Father	Gordon Westcott

Helen Westcott (born Myrthas Helen Hickman,^[2] January 1, 1928 – March 17, 1998) was an American stage and screen actress. A former child actress,^[3]^[4] she is best known for her work in The Gunfighter (1950).^[5]

Early years

Westcott was born on New Year's Day, 1928. She was the daughter of singer Hazel McArthur^[5] and Warner Bros. studio actor Gordon Westcott.^[6] Her father died from a polo accident when she was seven years old.^[5]

When she was two years old, Westcott appeared in vaudeville with her mother. At age seven, she began a nine-year run playing the daughter on stage in a production of The Drunkard in Los Angeles.^[7]

Westcott attended Los Angeles City College.^[5]

Film

When Westcott was 4 years old, she appeared in a series of short films. At 5, she appeared in the full-length Thunder Over Texas.^[7] She appeared opposite Gregory Peck in the western classic The Gunfighter released in 1950. She was also known in part for her role in Charles Lamont's 1953 comedy horror film Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Television

Westcott in the 1960 *Bonanza* episode "The Fear Merchants"

Westcott moved from the big screen to television roles in the late 1950s. In 1958 she appeared on Perry Mason as murderer Marcia Greeley in "The Case of the Haunted Husband." She also made guest appearances on Bonanza, The Twilight Zone and Wanted Dead Or Alive.^[4]^[8]

Later years

Westcott also appeared on the stage later in her career, as well as in films including Anthony Mann's God's Little Acre in 1958.^[4]

Personal life

Westcott wed actor Don Gordon on February 18, 1948. They had a daughter, Jennifer Kaye (born 1950). They were divorced in 1953.^[5]

Westcott was a registered Republican and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.^[9]

Death

Westcott died of cancer in Edmonds, Washington on March 17, 1998. Her body was cremated.^[6]

Filmography

Film
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1934	Thunder Over Texas	Betty 'Tiny' Norton
1935	The Affair of Susan	Engaged Girl on Stoop	Uncredited
1935	A Midsummer Night's Dream	Cobweb
1936	Without Orders	Little Girl	Uncredited
1937	Maid of Salem	Little Girl	Uncredited
1941	Henry Aldrich for President	Student	Uncredited
1948	13 Lead Soldiers	Cynthia Stedman
	Smart Girls Don't Talk	Toni Peters
	Adventures of Don Juan	Lady Diana
1949	Alaska Patrol	Mary Lynn
	Flaxy Martin	Peggy Farrar
	Homicide	Jo Ann Rice
	Mr. Belvedere Goes to College	Tri Gam Coed	Uncredited
	One Last Fling	Annie Mae Hunter
	The Girl from Jones Beach	Miss Brooks
	Whirlpool	Simms' Secretary	Uncredited
	Dancing in the Dark	June	Uncredited
1950	Backfire	Miss Haller – Receptionist at Mortuary	Uncredited
	Three Came Home	Woman Prisoner	Uncredited
	The Gunfighter	Peggy Walsh
1951	Take Care of My Little Girl	Merry Coombs
1951	The Secret of Convict Lake	Susan Haggerty
1952	Phone Call from a Stranger	Jane Trask
	Return of the Texan	Averill Murray
	With a Song in My Heart	Jennifer March
	Loan Shark	Martha Haines
	Battles of Chief Pontiac	Winifred Lancaster
1953	Cow Country	Linda Garnet
	The Charge at Feather River	Anne McKeever
	Gun Belt	Arlene Reach
	Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde	Vicky Edwards
1956	Hot Blood	Velma
1956	I Killed Wild Bill Hickok	Belle Longtree
1958	God's Little Acre	Rosamund
	The Last Hurrah	Mrs. McCluskey	Uncredited
	Invisible Avenger	Tara O'Neill
	Monster on the Campus	Nurse Molly Riordan
1959	Day of the Outlaw	Vivian
1960	Studs Lonigan	Miss Julia Miller
1960	Cimarron	Miss Kuye – Schoolteacher	Uncredited
1963	The Alfred Hitchcock Hour	Mrs. Helen Fletcher	Season 1 Episode 22: "Diagnosis Danger" (credited as Hellena Westcott)
1970	Pieces of Dreams	Mrs. Straub
1970	I Love My Wife	Mrs. Burrows