Helen Burns
Encyclopedia
Helen Burns is a British actress mostly known for playing comedic roles. Burns is best known for her performance in the 1994 production of The Last Yankee at the Duke of York's in Brighton, England, for which she won a Laurence Olivier Award, and for her role in the British television series And That's the News, Goodnight.
Burns has appeared in several films including: The Changeling
, Zorro, the Gay Blade
, Utilities, If You Could See What I Hear
, and Off Your Rocker. She has also appeared in the television movies Scarlett
and Life After Life
and has made guest appearances on several television series including Dr. Finlay's Casebook
, Pulaski, The Big One
, and Mr. Bean
.
Burns' Broadway stage credits include The Inspector General
, There's One in Every Marriage (1957), The First Gentleman
, at the Belasco Theatre in New York City, and Catsplay, for the latter of which, she received a Drama Desk Award
nomination.
Burns was married to Michael Langham
the former head of both the Stratford Festival and the Juilliard School
, and is the mother of actor/writer Chris Langham
.
Burns has appeared in several films including: The Changeling
The Changeling (film)
The Changeling is a 1980 horror film directed by Peter Medak and starring George C. Scott and Trish Van Devere . The story is based upon events that writer Russell Hunter said he experienced while he was living in the Henry Treat Rogers Mansion of Denver, Colorado.-Plot:Scott stars as Dr...
, Zorro, the Gay Blade
Zorro, The Gay Blade
Zorro, The Gay Blade is a 1981 feature film. This comedy features George Hamilton in a Golden Globe-nominated dual role as both Don Diego de la Vega and his gay twin brother Bunny Wigglesworth, née Ramon De La Vega.-Synopsis:...
, Utilities, If You Could See What I Hear
If You Could See What I Hear
If You Could See What I Hear is a 1982 biography/drama movie about blind musician Tom Sullivan, starring Marc Singer and Shari Belafonte, directed by Eric Till.Tagline: The true story of a born winner!-Plot summary:...
, and Off Your Rocker. She has also appeared in the television movies Scarlett
Scarlett (TV miniseries)
Scarlett is a 1994 six hour miniseries loosely based on the sequel to Margaret Mitchell's novel, Gone with the Wind, written by Alexandra Ripley...
and Life After Life
Life After Life
Life After Life is a 1975 book written by psychiatrist Raymond Moody. It is a report on a qualitative study in which Moody interviewed 150 people who had undergone near-death experiences . The book presents the author's composite account of what it is like to die...
and has made guest appearances on several television series including Dr. Finlay's Casebook
Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV & radio)
Dr. Finlay's Casebook is a television series that was broadcast on the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's novella entitled Country Doctor, the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictional Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s...
, Pulaski, The Big One
The Big One (TV series)
The Big One is a 1992 British comedy-drama television series starring Sandi Toksvig as Deddie Tolbert and Mike McShane as James Howard.Seven episodes were broadcast on Channel 4 from 5 March to 16 April 1992. The series was written by Elly Brewer and Toksvig, and directed by John Henderson. Guest...
, and Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean
Mr. Bean is a British comedy television programme series of 14 half-hour episodes written by and starring Rowan Atkinson as the title character. Different episodes were also written by Robin Driscoll, Richard Curtis and one by Ben Elton. The pilot episode was broadcast on ITV on 1 January 1990,...
.
Burns' Broadway stage credits include The Inspector General
The Inspector General
The Government Inspector, also known as The Inspector General , is a a satirical play by the Ukrainian-born Russian dramatist and novelist Nikolai Gogol . Originally published in 1836, the play was revised for an 1842 edition...
, There's One in Every Marriage (1957), The First Gentleman
The First Gentleman
The First Gentleman is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Joan Hopkins and Cecil Parker. It portrays the relationships and marriage of George, Prince Regent and his tense dealings with other members of his family such as Princess...
, at the Belasco Theatre in New York City, and Catsplay, for the latter of which, she received a Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
nomination.
Burns was married to Michael Langham
Michael Langham
Michael Langham was an English actor and director, who spent much of his career living and working in Canada and the United States....
the former head of both the Stratford Festival and the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, and is the mother of actor/writer Chris Langham
Chris Langham
Christopher "Chris" Langham is an English writer, actor and comedian. He is most famous for playing MP Hugh Abbot in BBC Four sitcom The Thick of It and as presenter Roy Mallard in People Like Us, first on BBC Radio 4 and later on its transfer to television on BBC Two, where Mallard is almost...
.