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 |