Helen Hanft (April 4, 1934 – May 30, 2013) was an American actress.

Early life Hanft was born in the Bronx, the eldest of three daughters born to Esther and Benjamin Hanft. Her father was a prominent public relations executive for several national Jewish organizations. Her father persuaded her to audition for the High School of Performing Arts, now part of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and she was admitted.

Career Hanft started her theatrical career in the early 1960s in the experimental theater movement at Off-Off-Broadway venues like La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Caffe Cino. She quickly became known as "the Ethel Merman of off-off-Broadway" for her comedic performances. Hanft often played eccentric, raunchy characters, and was featured in many plays by Tom Eyen, including:

My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty! (1964La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty! (1964)". ) Frustrata (1964,La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Frustrata (1964)". 1965La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Frustrata (1965)". ) The Demented World of Tom Eyen (1965La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Demented World of Tom Eyen, The (1965)". ) Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (1965,La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (1965)". 1971,La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (1971)". 1981La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (1981)".) The White Whore and the Bit Player (1965;La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: The White Whore and the Bit Player and Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down (variations on a theme) (1965)". she also appeared in the Cannon Films adaptation) Sarah B. Divine! (1967La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Sarah B. Divine! (1967)".) Who Killed My Bald Sister Sophie? (1969La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Moments from Why Hannah's Skirt Won't Stay Down, Who Killed My Bald Sister Sophie?, and The Four No Plays (1969)".) What is Making Gilda So Gray? (1970La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: What Is Making Gilda So Gray? (1970)". ) Women Behind Bars (1975) The Neon Woman (1978; co-starring Divine) Give My Regards to Off Off Broadway (1987La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Give My Regards to Off Off Broadway (1987)".) Areatha in the Ice Palace

She performed in David Rabe's In the Boom Boom Room at Joseph Papp's Public Theater, John Patrick Shanley's Italian American Reconciliation, and multiple plays by Stephen Holt, including Reety in Hell.Simonson, Robert (June 2, 2013). "Helen Hanft, Brassy Actress of Early Off Off-Broadway Scene, Dies at 79". Playbill. Retrieved July 11, 2018. Hanft also appeared in the following productions at La MaMa during the 1960s and 1970s:

Merrill Williams' At the Corner of Popcorn Alley and the 21st of September Street (1965La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: At the Corner of Popcorn Alley and the 21st of September Street (1965)".) H.M. Koutoukas' Omy Queen of the Fairies and Tidy Passions, or, Kill Kaleidascope Kill (1965La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Cafe La MaMa Experimental Theater Presents H.M. Koutoukas' Omy Queen of the Fairies and Tidy Passions, or, Kill Kaleidascope Kill (1965)".) Paul Foster's The Madonna in the Orchard (1966La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Madonna in the Orchard, The (1966)".) directed by Tom O'Horgan Howard Greenberger and Robert Reinhold's Our Play on the Future Has No Name (1970La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Our Play on the Future Has No Name (1970)".) Stephen Holt's The Kitty Glitter Story (1974La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Kitty Glitter Story, The (1974)". ) Jeff Klayman's Density 1.33 (1976La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: Density 1.33 (1976)". ) Holt's O My Rosey Dreams (1983La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: O My Rosey Dreams (1983)". )

Additionally, she appeared in Stoop; Bambi Levine, Please Shut Up!; and as Judy Garland dying in her bathroom in London Loo. She appeared as herself in two documentary features: Beautiful Darling, about Candy Darling; and I Am Divine, about Divine.

In the mid-1970s, Hanft began appearing in movies, sometimes in cameo roles. Her film credits include the Woody Allen films Manhattan, Stardust Memories, The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Allen's segment in New York Stories. She was also a favorite of Paul Mazursky, who cast her in Next Stop, Greenwich Village and Willie & Phil. Other film appearances include Arthur, Honky Tonk Freeway, Moonstruck, License to Drive, Coming to America (where she uttered the now famous line “Go on Honey, take a chance”), and Used People. In the late 1990s, she began appearing on episodes of Law & Order, and continued to make occasional stage appearances in New York City.

Personal life Her husband, William Landers, predeceased her, as did her younger sister, Alice. She is survived by her other sister, Sarah Comma.

She died in Manhattan on May 30, 2013, of a post-surgical intestinal blockage.

Filmography

Film + Year Title Role Notes1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Herb's Wife 1979 Manhattan Party Guest #3 1980 Willie & Phil Used Cars Salesperson 1980 Stardust Memories Vivian Orkin 1981 Arthur Perry's Wife 1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Bag Lady 1985 The Purple Rose of Cairo Movie Audience 1986 9½ Weeks Flea Market Shawl Seller 1986 Off Beat Waitress 1987 Moonstruck Lotte 1988 Coming to America Subway Lady 1988 License to Drive Miss Hellberg 1989 New York Stories Citizen (segment "Oedipus Wrecks")1989 Identity Crisis Hag 1989 Fear, Anxiety & Depression Roz 1990 Betsy's Wedding Fitter 1991 The Butcher's Wife Molly 1992 Used People Aunt Ruthie 1994 North Operator 1994 I.Q. Rose 1996 The Associate Mrs. Cupchick 1997 Mr. Jealousy Millie 1999 Trick Greasy Spoon Waitress 1999 Fever Louisa 2002 Dummy Mrs. Gurkel 2006 Puccini for Beginners Old Lady At Cinema 2007 Noise Forceful Juror 2009 When the Evening Comes Rose Bushman (final film role)

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1985 The Equalizer Mrs. Washburn Episode: "Back Home" 1989 Kojack: Ariana Woman TV movie 1997 Law & Order Martha Episode: "Denial" 2000 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mrs. Billins Episode: "Noncompliance" 2001 Law & Order Vera Episode: "Who Let the Dogs Out?" 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ruth Cohen Episode: "Yesterday"

References

External links

Hanft's page on La MaMa Archives Digital Collections