• Constance Towers is an actress and singer born in 1933 in Whitefish, Montana
• She is best known for her role as Helena Cassadine on General Hospital (1997-2017) and her roles in The Horse Soldiers (1959) and Shock Corridor (1963)
• She attended the Julliard School of Music and American Academy of Dramatic Arts and took singing lessons from Beverley Peck Johnson
• She has starred in over 65 films and TV roles and appeared in 10+ plays
• She has been married twice, has two children, and has a net worth of $10 million



Known for movies

Short Info

SpouseJohn Gavin, Eugene McGrath
FactWas one of the judges in the Miss Universe pageant of 1979.


Who is Constance Towers?

Born Constance Mary Towers on the 20th May 1933, in Whitefish, Montana USA, she is an actress and singer, probably best known to the world as Helena Cassadine in the soap opera “General Hospital”, which she portrayed from 1997 to 2017, and also for her starring roles in the late ’50s and early ‘60s, such as in “The Horse Soldiers” (1959), and “Shock Corridor” (1963), among other achievements.

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Where is Constance Towers Now?

Constance’s character of Helena Cassadine was killed off at the end of the 2017 season, which means she won’t be back for the new season of the show. So, where is she? With the death of her husband, John Gavin, Constance has used the time for grief and hasn’t been very active as an actress since then, so she doesn’t have a current acting credit to her name, as she became focused entirely on her husband and his illness. Hopefully, Constance returns to the entertainment world in the near future.

Constance Towers Bio: Early Life, Parents, and Education

The only child of Irish immigrants, Ardath L and Harry J. Towers, she was discovered by a talent agent when she was only seven years old, and chosen as one of several child actors for radio programs when the search was conducted in Montana. Her career then started as she served as a child voice actress in Pacific Northwest radio programs for the next three years. Constance and her family moved to New York City when her father was transferred there, and she attended the Julliard School of Music and American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and in addition took singing lessons from Beverley Peck Johnson.

Career Beginnings

From starting at an early age, she took a short break from acting, but returned in 1955 with a supporting role in the film “Bring Your Smile Along”, and then in 1956 in another supporting role, this time in the crime-thriller film “Over-Exposed”. It was in 1959 that she had her first lead role, as Hannah Hunter in John Ford’s American civil war film “The Horse Soldiers” (1959), co-starring John Wayne and William Holden. She continued her rise as an actress, firstly starring in the film “Sergeant Rutledge” in 1960, and then in 1963 in the mystery-drama film “Shock Corridor”, with Peter Breck and Gene Evans.

Rise to Prominence

As the ‘60s progressed, Constance’s career moved forward and her name was becoming more popular. As a result, she starred in the crime-drama film “The Naked Kiss” (1964), with Anthony Eisley and Karen Conrad, and the same year had a supporting role in the Academy Award-nominated film “Fate is the Hunter”, starring Glenn Ford, Nancy Kwan, and Rod Taylor. After that, she became more focused on stage roles, but returned to screen with the part of Clarissa McCandless in the TV series “Capitol” (1982-1987), which made her popular across the world. However, during the ‘90s her career somewhat until she got the aforementioned part of Helena Cassadine, which she portrayed for 20 years.

Continual Success

With the role of Helena, Constance’s name became one of the most popular in the soap opera world, and she managed to secure several other notable roles during this time, such as that of Sandra Bradford in the thriller crime-drama film “A Perfect Murder” (1998), starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen. After that, she became focused solely on “General Hospital”, but emerged in recent years with minor appearances in several television films, and the lead role in the film “Rosemary” in 2017.

Theater Career

Constance made her debut stage appearance in 1960, playing Sarah Brown in the play “Guys and Dolls”, then after a short break until 1965, she returned in the titular role of Anya. She enjoyed success on stage in the ‘70s, in such plays as “I Do! I Do!” (1972), then “My Fair Lady” (1973), and “The King and I” (1977-1979).

Her last stage appearance was in the play “Follies” in 1995. Most recently, Constance is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Blue Ribbon of the Los Angeles Music Center.

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Constance Towers Net Worth Today

Since launching her career, Constance has featured in over 65 film and TV roles, and has appeared in more than 10 plays, all of which contributed somewhat to her wealth, and most made a positive impact on her career. So, have you ever wondered how rich Constance Towers is, as of mid- 2018? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Towers’ net worth is as high as $10 million. Pretty impressive don’t you think?

Constance Towers Personal Life, Marriage, Divorce, Children

When it comes to her personal life, Constance has been quite open about ups and downs that happen to her behind the camera. She has two marriages behind her, and two children. She was first married to Eugene McGrath from 1959 to 1966, with whom she has two children. In 1974 she married famous actor and Ambassador John Gavin, and remained with him until his death in February 2018.

Constance Towers Husband, John Gavin

Born Juan Vincent Apablasa Jr. on the 8th April 1931 in Los Angeles, California USA, he was an actor and later the US Ambassador to Mexico. The son of Juan Vincent Apablasa Sr. and Delia Diana Pablos, he was of Mexican, Chilean, and Spanish ancestry. His acting career started in the mid- ‘50s, and with his future wife, Constance starred in several films, some of his most successful including “The Imitation of Life” (1959), “Psycho” (1960), and “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967), among many others. In addition to acting, John served in the military, and was an Ambassador to Mexico from 1981 until 1986. He had two children with his first wife, Cicely Evans, to whom he was married from 1957 until 1965. His net worth was estimated at $4 million at the time of his death. John Gavin passed away on the 9th February 2018, after losing the battle with leukemia.

General Info

Full NameConstance Towers
ProfessionActor, Singer
EducationJuilliard School
NationalityAmerican

Family

SpouseJohn Gavin, Eugene McGrath
ChildrenMichael McGrath, Maureen McGrath
ParentsArdath L. Towers, Harry J. Towers

Accomplishments

AwardsOuter Critics Circle Award for Other Awards
NominationsDaytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress In A Daytime Drama Special
MoviesThe Horse Soldiers, The Naked Kiss, Shock Corridor, Sergeant Rutledge, The Next Karate Kid, A Perfect Murder, The Relic, Bring Your Smile Along, Thunder in Paradise 3, Fate Is the Hunter, Fast Forward, Sylvester, Blue
TV ShowsCapitol, Love Is a Many Splendored Thing

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Mother, with John Gavin, of daughters Christina Gavin and Maria Gavin.
2Was one of the judges in the Miss Universe pageant of 1979.
3Has had a varied career, from playing a bald prostitute in the cult classic The Naked Kiss (1964), to singing on Broadway opposite Yul Brynner in a 1970's revival of "The King and I", to playing Gwyneth Paltrow's mother in A Perfect Murder (1998).
4Married to actor John Gavin, who was at one time President of the Screen Actors Guild and also U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.

Pictures

Movies

Actress

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Murder, She Wrote1987TV SeriesMargaret Witworth
Capitol1982-1987TV SeriesClarissa McCandless
On Wings of Eagles1986TV Mini-SeriesMargot Perot
Sylvester1985Muffy
Fast Forward1985Jessie Granger
Fantasy Island1979-1981TV SeriesMaggie Dunphy / Shirley Forbush
The Rockford Files1979TV SeriesSally
Lanigan's Rabbi1977TV SeriesVinnie Barcas
Hawaii Five-O1975TV SeriesMrs. Thorncrest
CBS Daytime 901974TV SeriesJoan Baldwin
Love Is a Many Splendored Thing1967TV SeriesMarian Hiller (1971-1972)
Perry Mason1961-1965TV SeriesLeona Devore / Joanne Pennington / Natalie Graham / ...
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1965TV SeriesLouise Menke
The Outer Limits1964TV SeriesLaura James
Fate Is the Hunter1964Peg Burke
The Naked Kiss1964Kelly
Shock Corridor1963Cathy
Zane Grey Theater1961TV SeriesBeth Woodfield
The Renegade1960TV MovieFelicia Post
Adventures in Paradise1960TV SeriesLaura Knight
Sergeant Rutledge1960Mary Beecher
The Horse Soldiers1959Hannah Hunter
The Bob Cummings Show1957-1958TV SeriesPatricia Plumber
Mike Hammer1958TV SeriesJean Barr
State Trooper1957TV SeriesDoris Woodley
Over-Exposed1956Shirley Thomas (as Shirley Thomas)
Bring Your Smile Along1955Nancy Willows
Tales of Tomorrow1952TV SeriesMartha
The Storyteller2017completedRosemary
General Hospital1997-2016TV SeriesHelena Cassadine
11.22.632016TV Mini-SeriesOld Sadie Dunhill
Aghápe2015ShortMature Leean
Playing House2015TV SeriesBetty Gilbert
Men at Work2014TV SeriesMary
1600 Penn2013TV SeriesBunny Thoroughgood
Cold Case2009TV SeriesCaroline Kemp / Bellowes '09
The Awakening of Spring2008Mrs. Gable
The 44002007TV SeriesAudrey Parker
Criminal Minds2006TV SeriesDeb Mason
Providence2000TV SeriesCandice Whitman / Cromwell
A Perfect Murder1998Sandra Bradford
Kelly Kelly1998TV SeriesKate
Sunset Beach1997TV SeriesJulianna Deschanel / Juliana Deschanel
The Relic1997Mrs. Blaisedale
High Society1995TV SeriesBoatie
Caroline in the City1995TV SeriesBarbara
Thunder in Paradise 31995VideoCavanna
Robin's Hoods1995TV SeriesJosephine Robin
Silk Stalkings1994TV SeriesKaren Krane
Thunder in Paradise1994TV SeriesCavanna
Frasier1994TV SeriesClarice Warner
The Next Karate Kid1994Louisa Pierce
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine1993TV SeriesTaxco
The Sands of Time1992TV Movie
Civil Wars1992TV SeriesHarriet Guilford
The Nutt House1992Mrs. Henderson
2000 Malibu Road1992TV SeriesCamilla
Baywatch1992TV SeriesMaggie James
Memories of Midnight1991TV Movie
Matlock1991TV SeriesAlice Windemere
Designing Women1990TV SeriesLouise Pollard
Midnight Caller1989TV SeriesTeresa Chandler
Christine Cromwell1989TV SeriesSassy Taggart
MacGyver1989TV SeriesFrancine Leyland
L.A. Law1987-1988TV SeriesCharlotte Kelsey
The Loner1988TV MovieKate Shane

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Today1966TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Naked Kiss1964performer: "Little Child Mon enfant" - uncredited
Bring Your Smile Along1955performer: "Italian Mother Song Mama Mia", "Don't Blame Me"

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
A Fuller Life2013DocumentaryHerself - Reader (segment "Grab 'Em. Slap 'Em. Shake 'Em up.")
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer2006Video documentaryHerself
SoapTalk2004TV SeriesHerself
Biography2002TV Series documentaryHerself
E! True Hollywood Story1999TV Series documentaryHerself
Votes for Women1997Documentary short
Yul Brynner: The Man Who Was King1995TV Movie documentaryHerself
The Morning Program1987TV SeriesHerself - Guest
Hour Magazine1985-1986TV SeriesHerself
The Merv Griffin Show1985TV SeriesHerself
Body Language1984-1985TV SeriesHerself
The 9th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards1982TV SpecialHerself
The Paul Ryan Show1977TV SeriesHerself
The Mike Douglas Show1965-1977TV SeriesHerself - Actress / Herself / Herself - Guest / ...
The 26th Annual Tony Awards1972TV SpecialHerself - Performer
The David Frost Show1969TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Joey Bishop Show1967TV SeriesHerself
The Woody Woodbury Show1967TV SeriesHerself
Today1966TV SeriesHerself
The Bell Telephone Hour1966TV SeriesHerself - Singer
Girl Talk1966TV SeriesHerself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1963TV SeriesHerself - Guest
The Jack Paar Tonight Show1957-1959TV SeriesHerself
America Pauses for the Merry Month of May1959TV MovieHerself (as Connie Towers)
The Ed Sullivan Show1957TV SeriesHerself
The Juke Box Jury1956TV SeriesHerself
The Jack Carson Show1954TV SeriesHerself - Singer

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Marching on to Season Two2004Video documentary shortClarise Warner (uncredited)
The Men Who Made the Movies: Samuel Fuller2002TV Movie documentaryKelly
Hollywood Mavericks1990DocumentaryKelly (uncredited)
The Ed Sullivan Show1959TV SeriesHerself

Awards

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2002Special Fan AwardDaytime Emmy AwardsAmerica's Favorite VillainGeneral Hospital (1963)
1974Daytime EmmyDaytime Emmy AwardsBest Actress in Daytime Drama - For a Special ProgramCBS Daytime 90 (1974)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

2 Comments

  1. Maureen Locke Reply

    John Gavin was a most wonderful man and so funny! His Wit…. I am so glad to have met him many years ago!

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