Helen Wagner (September 3, 1918 – May 1, 2010) was an American actress. She was born in Lubbock, Texas. She is best known for her long running role as Nancy Hughes on the soap opera As the World Turns. Wagner also played the role of Trudy Bauer during the first few television years of Guiding Light in the early 1950s. Wagner died on May 1, 2010, at the age of 91.

Wagner spoke the first words on As The World Turns when the show premiered on April 2, 1956, and holds the Guinness World Record for playing the same role on television for the longest amount of time.

In 2004, Wagner was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 2002, she received a plaque on the Buddy Holly Walk of Fame in Lubbock, Texas.

"All of us at As The World Turns are deeply saddened by Helen's passing," said Christopher Goutman, Executive Producer. "She is loved by generations of fans and while we will miss her greatly, Helen will always remain the heart and soul of As The World Turns."

Wagner's other Broadway credits include Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, The Bad Seed, My Name Is Acquilon and Love of Four Colonels. She toured as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire with Lee Marvin, and appeared in regional theater in Illinois as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter and in all of the women's roles in Lovers and Other Strangers.

Before joining As The World Turns in 1956, Wagner appeared on a number of television programs including Studio One, Philco Radio Television and The World of Mr. Sweeney.

Wagner was married to Broadway producer Robert Willey from June, 1954 until his death in May, 2009.





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