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.
Helene Stanley | |
---|---|
Born | Dolores Diane Freymouth July 17, 1929 |
Died | December 27, 1990 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 61)
Other names | Dolores Diane |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1942–1961 |
Spouses | |
Children | 1 |
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]
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.
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]
Stanley died on December 27, 1990, in Los Angeles. The cause of her death was not reported.[citation needed]