Helen Hanft

Helen Hanft (born April 4, 1934) is an American actress. Hanft was born in New York City. She started her theatrical career in the early 1960s, and in a few years she became one of the greatest actresses of the Off-Off Broadway circuit. Not known as a great beauty, she beamed more for her great comedic talent; she often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in many successful plays like Tom Eyen's Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down, pro... more

Helen Hanft (born April 4, 1934) is an American actress. Hanft was born in New York City. She started her theatrical career in the early 1960s, and in a few years she became one of the greatest actresses of the Off-Off Broadway circuit. Not known as a great beauty, she beamed more for her great comedic talent; she often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in many successful plays like Tom Eyen's Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down, produced by "La MaMa, E.T.C.". In the middle 1970s Hanft began appearing in movies, some with Woody Allen (Manhattan, 1979; The Purple Rose of Cairo, 1985). In 1992 she starred opposite Shirley MacLaine in Used People. In the late 1990s she began appearing in memorable guest roles such popular TV shows as Law & Order. She still makes the occasional stage appearance in New York City and can be seen as Milla Jovovich's painkiller-addicted mother in Dummy, 2002. less