Helen Morgan was an American singer and actress who worked in films and on the stage. A quintessential torch singer, she made a big splash in the Chicago club scene in the 1920s. She starred as Julie LaVerne in the original Broadway production of Hammerstein and Kern's musical Show Boat in 1927, as well as in the 1932 Broadway revival of the musical, and appeared in two film adaptations, a part-talkie made in 1929 and a full-sound version made in 1936, becoming firmly associated with the role. She suffered from bouts of alcoholism, and despite her notable success in the title role of another Hammerstein and Kern's Broadway musical, Sweet Adeline (1929), her stage career was relatively short. Helen Morgan died of cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 41. She was portrayed by Polly Bergen in the Playhouse 90 drama The Helen Morgan Story and by Ann Blyth in the 1957 biopic based on the television drama.
Helen Morgan, American singer and actress (born 1900)
On October 9, in the year 1941, Helen Morgan, American singer and actress (born 1900). This event is recorded as a Notable Deaths event in the history of October 9, one of 433 recorded events on this date across all of history.
1 notable person is associated with this event, including Helen Morgan (singer). Learn more below.
Key Facts
- This event took place on October 9, 1941 (AD era).
- It is categorised as a Notable Deaths event in recorded history.
- Referenced in 1 Wikipedia article.
- 1 notable person is recorded as involved in or associated with this event.
- The event is associated with a specific geographical location (see map below).
- Wikipedia source last updated on 24 August 2026.
On This Date in History 433
This article draws on content from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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