With heavy hearts, the family of Helen Slayton-Hughes announced on Thursday that their beloved Ethel Beavers from Parks and Recreation had passed away. The 92-year-old star will be remembered for her iconic portrayal of the lively character in NBC’s hit show. On Wednesday, news of her passing shocked fans everywhere as the cause of death remains unknown. Even now, people are eagerly waiting for the star’s family to reveal this information in order to understand what took away their beloved icon at ninety-two years old.
In honor of their beloved matriarch, Helen’s family took to social media with a post that touched the hearts of those who had seen her on Parks and Recreation.
“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.”
From 2011 to 2015, Helen was a beloved fixture on Parks and Recreation as Ethel – an endearing courtroom stenographer. She continued her role for several seasons, with fans adoring her jovial character all the while!
Helen was a prominent figure on the beloved sitcom and political satire, appearing in eleven episodes. She featured alongside comedy powerhouses such as Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, and of course Amy Poehler who lead the show. Helen’s character earned their fame by delivering hilarious one-liners at exactly perfect moments to explain away any confusing events that took place with other characters.
In an entertaining episode of Parks and Recreation, Helen made Aubrey and Chris overjoyed when she consented to become their grandmother for the show. It was a hilarious moment that viewers have come to expect from this classic program.
On October 8, 2022, Helen made her last public appearance to attend the Netflix Special Screening of The Curse of Bridge Hollow. In this comedy horror movie, she portrayed Victoria – a character that would ultimately be her final role in a long and distinguished acting career with numerous credits to its name.
Helen hails from a family of highly acclaimed thespians, including her well-known cousin Peter Dinklage of Game of Thrones fame with whom she is once removed. Her pursuit for excellence led Helen to Syracuse University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Drama and subsequently attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to obtain an additional degree in Communications.
During her remarkable forty-year career in the entertainment industry, Helen performed on stage and before the camera in more than two hundred plays and musicals. She was a true veteran of both television and film production – an unforgettable talent who left behind a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Helen’s big break in Hollywood came at the age of seventy when she scored two episodes on Nash Bridges in 1996. She was performing at Berkeley Stage, located near San Francisco Bay Area when her career took off. Helen then followed this success by relocating to Los Angeles and appearing on some of the most popular shows out there – Including Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl, New Girl, That’s So Raven & Desperate Housewives!
Helen was blessed with four children and six grandchildren, but her marriage remained an enigma to many. Despite the length of their union, she chose to keep the identity of her husband a secret until the very end.
