| Helen Martin | |||||||||||
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| Days Of Our Lives | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | K.T. Stevens | ||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Regular | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1966-67, 1969 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | August 18, 1966 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | July 14, 1969 | ||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Admitted to a Mental Institution | ||||||||||
| Created by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Betty Corday | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||
| Died | Assumed deceased | ||||||||||
| Residence | Mental Institution Formerly Salem, Illinois | ||||||||||
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Helen Martin was a character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives.
Storylines
Helen Martin is married to John Martin, a man of considerable wealth. She enjoys a socialite lifestyle in Salem and is deeply devoted to her son, David Martin, as well as her grandchildren, Richard "Dickie" Martin and David Banning. In the summer of 1966, Helen and John are taken aback when they learn that David has made a young woman named Susan Hunter pregnant. Initially hesitant, particularly since David had recently ended a relationship with Susan's best friend, Julie Olson Williams, they ultimately choose to support David and Susan, leading to their marriage. They generously provide the couple with a house to begin their new life together. However, David later confides in his parents that he married Susan solely to give their child a name and intends to divorce her, planning to put the baby up for adoption. Although Helen and John are dismayed by this revelation, they continue to support their son. The baby, a boy named Richard 'Dickie' Martin, is born prematurely in 1967. After recovering from his early birth, Susan decides to keep the child, thwarting David's plans to reunite with Julie. While Helen and John remain supportive of David, they are pleased to be involved in little Dickie's life and hope for David's transformation to become a responsible father.
When they learn that David intends to leave town, they do not intervene. On the day of his departure, he spends a final afternoon with young Dickie. Tragically, while pushing him on a swing, Dickie falls and sustains a fatal head injury. In a fit of madness, Susan shoots and kills David. Heartbroken, Helen and John strive to have Susan convicted of murder. During the trial, Helen turns to heavy drinking, struggling to manage her grief. Julie returns to town and tells a thrilled Helen and John that she is pregnant with David's child. This revelation eventually comes out in court and ultimately, Susan is acquitted by reason of insanity, which infuriates Helen, prompting her to seek revenge. Recognizing that Susan desires forgiveness, Helen invites her over one afternoon, only to confront her with harsh words and a gun. Helen taunts Susan before she shoots the young girl. Although Susan survives, Helen descends into complete madness. She is admitted to a mental institution, where she receives occasional visits from John and Julie.