Helen Horton

Helen Horton was an American actress who is best known for her roles in Alien, Superman III, and Phase IV. She was born on November 21, 1923, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away on September 28, 2007, in Vero Beach, Florida.

Personal and Family Life

Helen Virginia Horton was born to Frances Katherine Stewart and Walter Clark “Bud” Horton. She was married to Hamish Thomson from Scotland and had three children, one of whom is actor and musician Jamie Thomson. Her granddaughter is the renowned actress Lily James. Helen had a mix of Colonial American and Scottish ancestry.

Career Highlights

Horton was widely recognized for her iconic voice role as “Mother,” the computer of the Nostromo spaceship, in the film Alien (1979). Additionally, she was a regular performer on The Benny Hill Show during the 1970s and 1980s, often portraying Benny’s wife in various sketches. Throughout her career, she participated in numerous film and television projects, showcasing her versatile acting talents.

Death and Legacy

Helen Horton died on September 28, 2007. She left behind a legacy in film and television, remembered especially for her contributions to the sci-fi genre. Her work continues to be celebrated by fans of classic cinema, and she is fondly remembered by her family and those who knew her.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Endless Night 1972-10-05 Aunt Beth
Phase IV 1974-09-01 Mildred Eldridge
Forgotten Prisoners: The Amnesty Files 1990-11-19 ALA Group Leader
Let’s Be Happy 1957-05-07 Sadie Whitelaw
Nido de viudas 1977-12-01 Ana
Reunion at Fairborough 1985-05-12 Mrs Bigard
Thunder on Sycamore Street 1957-10-11 Clarice Morrison
The Woman He Loved 1988-04-03 Martha
The Chairman 1969-06-25 Susan Wright
Superman III 1983-06-17 Miss Henderson
The Mark of the Hawk 1957-12-01 Barbara Craig
The Razor’s Edge 1984-10-19 Red Cross Lady
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger 1960-03-04 Sylvia Kingsley
Strange Stories 1953-01-01 Marie (‘Strange Journey’)
The Pueblo Affair 1970-01-19 Mrs. Bucher
Alien 1979-05-25 Mother (voice)
Auntie Kathleen’s Old Clothes 1977-02-21 Nancy
The Benny Hill Show 1969-11-19 Regular
Tales of the Unexpected 1979-03-24 American Passenger/Martha
The Two Mrs. Grenvilles 1987-02-08 Nurse at Playhouse
Minder 1979-10-29 Judge’s Wife
Agatha Christie’s Poirot 1989-01-08 Julia Olivera
Two’s Company 1975-09-06 Clare
Hurricane 1961-07-02 Mrs. Van Diemen
Van der Valk 1972-09-13 Mrs Lovell Wallace