Hildy Parks

Actress-cum-writer Hildy Parks was born Hilda DeForrest Parks in Washington, D.C. on March 12, 1926. She studied acting at the University of Virginia and made her New York stage debut in the role of Curley's wife in "Of Mice and Men" at the New School in the late 40s. From 1947 to 1957, Hilda enhanced a number of productions on Broadway, including "Bathsheba," her debut starring James Mason, as well as "Summer and Smoke," "Magnolia Alley," "To Dorothy, a Son," "Be Your Age" and "The Tunnel of Love." In London she appeared in "Mister Roberts" as the only female member of the cast. Hildy began as a TV celebrity, appearing in a number of game shows ("The Name's the Same," "Down You Go," "To Tell the Truth") and making several acting appearances on such anthologies as "Kraft Theatre," "Studio One in Hollywood," "Starlight Theatre," "Omnibus," "Robert Montgomery Presents" and "Armstrong Circle Theatre." She also had the 1952-1953 regular role of Ellie Crown on the daytime soap opera Love of Life (1951) and a recurring role on the series Danger (1950). In the mid-1950's Hildy attempted to move to film, taking her first bow in the tense "Desperate Hours" like crime noir The Night Holds Terror (1955). She co-stars as a wife who is held for ransom in her home along with her husband Jack Kelly and two children by escaped convicts Peter Eklund, John Cassavetes and David Cross. This movie, surprisingly, did not lead to a film career. She appeared appearing fleetingly in the 60's political thrillers Fail Safe (1964) and Seven Days in May (1964). After a few guest shots on such popular shows as "The Phil Silvers Show," "The Millionaire," "The Defenders" and "The Patty Duke Show," Hildy ended her acting career with a minor role in the film drama The Group (1966), turned to writing and producing. Briefly married to actor/executive Jackie Cooper (1950-1954), Hildy married producer Alexander H. Cohen in 1956. They had two sons, Gerry and Christopher. Together they became partners in many theatre endeavors, producing a host Broadway plays over the years, including "The Unknown Soldier and His Family" (1967), "Dear World" (1969), "6 Rms Riv Vu" (1972), "Comedians" (1977), "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine" (1980), "Accidental Death of an Anarchist" (1984), "Accomplice" (1990), "Comedy Tonight" (1994) and "The Herbal Bed" (1998). Beginning in 1967, she also wrote the 20 Tony Awards telecasts that her husband produced. Hildy received several Emmy nominations for these producing/writing efforts, finally winning for her 1980 Tony Awards telecast. Son Chris Cohen became a production stage manager for these telecasts. On TV, Alexander and Hildy produced (and she wrote) the popular 1982 Night of 100 Stars (1982) TV special from Radio City Music Hall, which hosted a parade of renown entertainment and sports celebrities in a performing and non-performing capacity. They won the Emmy for "Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program." They went on to producing the others that followed. Following her husband's death in 2000, Hildy would later reside at the Actors' Fund Home in Englewood, New Jersey. The 78-year-old followed him in death on October 7, 2004, following complications from a stroke