Helen Gallagher, a distinguished actress celebrated for her extensive work on Broadway and her portrayal of matriarch Maeve Ryan on the ABC soap opera “Ryan’s Hope,” passed away on November 24, 2024, at a Manhattan hospital. She was 98.
Born on July 19, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York City, Gallagher was raised in Scarsdale and the Bronx. After her parents separated, she and her brother were brought up by an aunt. Despite suffering from asthma in her youth, Gallagher pursued a career in the performing arts, making her Broadway debut in 1944 in the musical revue “Seven Lively Arts.”
Gallagher’s breakthrough came in 1952 when she won her first Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as Gladys Bumps in the revival of “Pal Joey.” She continued to make her mark on Broadway with performances in “Make a Wish,” “Hazel Flagg,” “Portofino,” and “High Button Shoes.”
In 1966, she earned a Tony nomination for her role as Nickie in “Sweet Charity” and later took over the lead role of Charity. Her second Tony Award came in 1971 for her portrayal of Lucille Early in the revival of “No, No, Nanette,” a performance that also earned her a Drama Desk Award.
In 1975, Gallagher transitioned to television, taking on the role of Maeve Ryan in “Ryan’s Hope.” She remained with the show until 1989, appearing in over 2,000 episodes. Her portrayal of the Irish-American matriarch earned her three Daytime Emmy Awards.
Reflecting on the show’s unique appeal, Gallagher once noted, “Ryan’s Hope was the best-written soap ever. And it’s not so much just the writing, it’s the whole situation. It lent to the complications of ordinary life, but at the same time, it had a foot in reality, which made it so much easier to play.”
Beyond “Ryan’s Hope,” Gallagher made guest appearances on other soap operas, including “All My Children” and “One Life to Live.” She also appeared in television series such as “Law & Order” and “The Cosby Mysteries.” Her film credits include roles in “Strangers When We Meet” (1960) alongside Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak, and “Roseland” (1977) with Christopher Walken.
In addition to her acting career, Gallagher was a dedicated educator. She taught singing for musical theater at New York’s Herbert Berghof School, where she studied under Uta Hagen. In 2020, the studio honored her contributions by naming a performance space the Helen Gallagher Studio Theatre. Gallagher expressed her affection for the institution: “HB Studio is my home, and teaching there has been one of the greatest joys of my life.”
Gallagher married Frank Wise in 1956, whom she met when he was a stagehand for “The Pajama Game.” They divorced in 1972.
Gallagher’s contributions to the arts were recognized with numerous accolades, including two Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and three Daytime Emmy Awards. Her legacy endures through her extensive work and the many students she mentored.
She is survived by her extended family, friends, and countless admirers who remember her for her talent, dedication, and the warmth she brought to both stage and screen.
