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Helen Chandler (February 1, 1906 – April 30,
1965) was an United States|American film and
theater actor|actress.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Chandler began
her acting career on Broadway in 1917.  Within a
few years she was playing William
Shakespeare|Shakespearean roles opposite such
highly regarded performers as John Barrymore.

She made her film debut in 1927 in The Music
Master and in 1930 joined Leslie Howard, Douglas
Fairbanks Jr., and Beryl Mercer for the film
version of the stage success Outward Bound
(film)|Outward Bound.  The unusual story told of a
group of passengers on an ocean liner who
gradually realise that they are all dead. 
Chandler, with her blonde hair and ethereal
quality was considered to be perfectly cast, and
she received critical praise for her performance. 


Chandler did not want to play the role for which
she is probably best remembered, as Mina Harker in
Dracula (1931 movie)|Dracula as she wanted to play
Alice in Alice in Wonderland, but this part was
given to Charlotte Henry.  Chandler, disappointed,
joined David Manners and Bela Lugosi in what
became one of the most successful movies made
until that time. Once again, Chandler received
plaudits for her performance.  She achieved more
successes in A House Divided (1931) and
Christopher Strong (1932) and began dividing her
time between Hollywood and Broadway.  Among her
stage successes of the 1930s were Pride and
Prejudice in 1935, and a reprise of her role in
Outward Bound in 1938.

By this time she was battling alcoholism and her
acting career declined.  She was hospitalised
several times but was unable to gain control over
her life.   In 1950, Chandler was severely burned
in an apartment fire, caused by her falling asleep
while smoking.  She survived but her face was
badly disfigured, and ruled out any chance of a
comeback.  Her alcoholism continued unabated.  She
died April 30, 1965 from cardiac arrest during
surgery for a stomach ulcer in Hollywood,
California.  Her remains were cremation|cremated
in accordance with her wishes but remained
unclaimed at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory. 

==External links==

*imdb name|id=0151377|name=Helen Chandler