Helene Stanley

American actress

Johnny Stompanato

(m. 1953; div. 1955)

David Niemetz

(m. 1959; died 1990)

Children1

Helene Stanley (born Dolores Diane Freymouth; July 17, 1929 – December 27, 1990) was an American actress. She is best known for being the live model for Cinderella, Aurora, and Anita Radcliffe.

Early life

Stanley was born in Gary, Indiana. Her parents were Michael Freymouth, who was an acrobat who worked in Europe, and Gerty Freymouth (née Seigert).^{[citation needed]}

Career

Stanley used the stage name "Dolores Diane." In 1946, she received a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and began to use the stage name "Helene Stanley,"^[1] with one of her most notable appearances being a brief, but memorable role in John Huston's The Asphalt Jungle (1950).

Her collaboration with Disney started around 1948. She became the live-action model for the main character in Cinderella,^[2] Aurora in Sleeping Beauty,^[3]^[4] and Anita Radcliffe in One Hundred and One Dalmatians.^[5]^[6] In the season three episode of Walt Disney's Disneyland (1957), Tricks of Our Trade, Stanley appears as herself performing a ballet routine for several studio animation directors.

Personal life

Helene Stanley was married to Johnny Stompanato^[7]^[8]^[9] on January 17, 1953, with their divorce dated February 10, 1955.^[10]

After Stompanato, Stanley married a physician from Beverly Hills, David Niemetz. They had a son, David Niemetz Jr., in 1961.^[11] After they were married, Stanley formally retired from show business in 1962, 1 year after the birth of her son.^[12]

Death

Stanley died on December 27, 1990, in Los Angeles. The cause of her death was not reported.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

1942: Girls' Town - Sally
1943: Hi, Buddy - Specialty
1943: Moonlight in Vermont - A Jivin' Jill
1945: Patrick the Great - Member, Jivin' Jills (uncredited)
1945: Thrill of a Romance - Susan
1946: Holiday in Mexico - Yvette Baranga
1947: Brick Bradford - Carol Preston
1948: My Dear Secretary - Miss 'Clay' Pidgeon (uncredited)
1949: Mr. Soft Touch - Donna (uncredited)
1949: Bandit King of Texas - Cynthia Turner
1949: All the King's Men - Helene Hale (uncredited)
1950: Cinderella (As live-action model for Disney animators to use as a guide) (Cinderella)
1950: A Woman of Distinction - Minor Role (uncredited)
1950: The Asphalt Jungle - Jeannie - Girl in Diner (uncredited)
1952: Diplomatic Courier - Airline Stewardess
1952: Wait till the Sun Shines, Nellie - Eadie Jordan
1952: We're Not Married! - Mary (uncredited)
1952: Dreamboat - Mimi
1952: The Snows of Kilimanjaro - Connie
1953: Roar of the Crowd - Marcy Parker
1953: Once I Will Return - Gloria
1954: Carnival Story - Peggy
1954: Circus of Love - Lore
1955: Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier - Polly Crockett (archive footage)
1955: Dial Red O - Connie Wyatt
1957: Walt Disney's Disneyland Tricks of Our Trade - Herself
1959: Sleeping Beauty (As live-action model for Disney animators to use as a guide) - Aurora
1959: Perry Mason The Case of the Foot-Loose Doll" - Fran Driscoll
1961: One Hundred and One Dalmatians (As live-action model for Disney animators to use as a guide) - Anita

References

^ Sandra Brennan, Rovi (2014). "Helene Stanley". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
^ "Cinderella Character History". Disney Archives. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003.
^ "Audio-commentary for Sleeping Beauty". Sleeping Beauty Platinum Edition (Disc 1) (DVD). Walt Disney Home Entertainment. 2008.
^ "Once Upon a Dream: Making of Sleeping Beauty". Sleeping Beauty Special Edition (Disc 2) (DVD). Walt Disney Home Entertainment. 2003.
^ John Grant (1987). The Encyclopedia of Walt Disney's Animated Characters. p. 228. ISBN 0060157771.
^ Conradt, Stacy. "Helene Stanley". Mental Floss. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
^ "4th Stompanato Marriage Hinted". Albany Democrat-Herald. Oregon, Albany. Albany Democrat-Herald. April 15, 1958. p. 2. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Star's Child Tells of Killing". Independent. California, Long Beach. Independent Press-Telegram. April 6, 1958. p. 3. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Another Woman Linked With Johnny as Police Continue To Search Into Past of Slain 'Gigolo'". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. April 16, 1958. p. 4. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Police Hang Gigolo Tag On Johnny Stompanato". Tucson Daily Citizen. Arizona, Tucson. Tucson Daily Citizen. April 5, 1958. p. 8. Retrieved February 13, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Helene Stanley - the Private Life and Times of Helene Stanley. Helene Stanley Pictures".
^ Potempa, Philip (June 22, 2022). "Potempa: Helene Stanley, actress from Gary, found Walt Disney film fame". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 9, 2023.