Helene Chadwick was born into a very affluent family in the town of Chadwick, upstate New York, which was actually named after her family. Her father owned a silk mill, while her mother was a renowned opera singer. During a visit to New York City, a friend who was an artist convinced Helene to pose for one of his paintings, which ultimately led to her entry into the film industry.
A film producer discovered Helene's work and was impressed by her skills as an experienced horsewoman, which was exactly what he needed for a film he was producing. After contacting her, he asked Helene if she would be interested in starring in his film, and she agreed. Her film debut was in the 1916 film "The Challenge" for Pathe, followed by a few more films before she signed a contract with Goldwyn Pictures.
Helene went on to have a remarkable career spanning more than 20 years in the film industry, with her last film being the 1937 classic "A Star Is Born," directed by her former husband, William A. Wellman, in which she had an uncredited role as a woman attending a film preview. Unfortunately, her life was cut short when she died in Los Angeles in 1940 at the age of 42 due to injuries sustained in a fall.
