The 92-year-old actress was adored for her iconic role as court stenographer Ethel Beavers in the hit NBC sitcom In an emotional post, her family announced the news on December 8 saying: “Helen passed away last night.
“Her pain has ended but her fierce spirit lives on.
“Thank you for the love and support of her and her work.
“Rest sweet one. love: The Hughes family”
The beloved actress had made her final public appearance on October 8 to attend a special screening of her new Netflix film.
After more than four decades in the industry, Helen’s final role is as Victoria in the comedy horror film The Curse of Bridge Hollow.
The emotional announcement was posted alongside a video montage, consisting of a collection of photos of Helen and some of her iconic quotes.
One read: “The universe is getting ready for a big project: preparing for my departure.”
The post, and Helen’s Facebook page, has been inundated with fans and colleagues alike sharing heartfelt condolences.
One fan revealed that they were so enamored with Helen’s character and her portrayal that they even named their dog Ethel Beavers.
Countless comments branded her a “legend” and thanked her for the laughter she had given the world.
She first launched her career in 1980 as Selma in the film Mafia on the Bounty and continued working well into 2022.
Her role as Ethel from 2011 to 2015 garnered her international fame as the series became a global hit.
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While the actress was most known for her on-screen roles, she also enjoyed a varied and successful stage career, appearing in over 200 plays and musicals.
In her later years, Helen also ventured into voice acting for video games with roles in 2012’s Guild Wars 2 and 2014’s Murdered: Soul Suspect.
Amid all of her acting accolades, Helen was also a writer.
The actress and her collaborator Dana Lewis Howell penned a one-act opera, Rachel, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, in 2015.