Anne Helm Net Worth and Her Hollywood Career

Anne Helm is a former actress and children’s book author who gained fame in the 1960s for her roles in film and television. Best known for starring alongside Elvis Presley in Follow That Dream, she built a successful career in Hollywood before transitioning to writing.

With decades of work in entertainment and publishing, many wonder about Anne Helm’s net worth and how her career earnings have shaped her financial standing. While she retired from acting in 1986, her contributions to film and literature remain significant. Let’s take a closer look at her career, earnings, and estimated financial legacy.

Who is Anne Helm?

Image source: Pinterest

Anne Helm, born on September 12, 1938, in Toronto, Canada, is a retired actress and children’s author. She initially trained as a ballet dancer at the National Ballet Guild of Canada before moving to New York City at age 14 to study at the Metropolitan Opera’s ballet school. Modeling helped her transition into acting, making her television debut in 1956 on The Phil Silvers Show.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Helm appeared in numerous TV series. She starred alongside Elvis Presley in Follow That Dream (1962) and had roles in The Magic Sword and The Interns. After retiring from acting in 1986, she became a children’s book author, publishing works under the name Annie Helm.

Helm was married twice, first to John Sherlock, with whom she had a son, and later to Robert Viharo, with whom she had a daughter, actress Serena Viharo.

Estimated Net Worth

Image source: Pinterest

Anne Helm’s net worth is estimated to be between $100,000 and $5 million, though exact figures remain uncertain due to a lack of publicly available financial records. Her wealth primarily stems from her acting career, television appearances, film roles, and later, her work as a children’s book author.

1. Earnings from Acting Career

Anne Helm’s primary source of income came from her three-decade-long acting career in film and television. She appeared in numerous hit TV shows and movies, which likely contributed significantly to her overall earnings.

Television Appearances:

Helm starred in dozens of television series throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including:

- - Perry Mason
  - Rawhide
  - Gunsmoke
  - Bonanza
  - General Hospital

During the 1960s, TV actors typically earned $750–$2,000 per episode, with leading roles earning more. If Helm appeared in multiple guest-star episodes per year, her earnings would have been comparable to mid-tier Hollywood actors of the time.

Some of the classic TV series she appeared in continue to be broadcast in syndication, which may entitle her to residual payments, though the payout structure of early television contracts was not as lucrative as it is today.

Film Earnings:

Helm’s most famous movie role was opposite Elvis Presley in Follow That Dream (1962). Presley’s co-stars, depending on their roles, could earn between $10,000 and $50,000 per film in the 1960s.

She also appeared in other films such as The Magic Sword (1962) and The Interns (1962), which would have further contributed to her overall earnings.

Stage Work:

Helm also had a presence in Broadway and theater productions, which likely provided additional income, though earnings from theater work were generally lower than those from film and television.

2. Earnings from Writing Career

After retiring from acting in 1986, Helm transitioned to writing and became a children’s book author under the pen name Annie Helm.

She wrote and published books such as:

- The Sunshine Angel Book for Angel Workers of All Ages (1992)
- The Little Angel Workbook for Children of All Ages (1993)

Children’s book authors typically earn royalties from book sales, with standard advances ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per book, depending on the publisher and book sales.

While her books were not major bestsellers, they likely provided a modest additional income.

3. Possible Investments and Other Financial Considerations

Although there is no public information on Helm’s financial investments, many actors of her era invested in real estate or business ventures. Given her long career, she may have had:

Real Estate Holdings:

- Many Hollywood actors purchased homes in Los Angeles or New York that later appreciated in value.
- If Helm invested in property, it could have added to her overall net worth.

Retirement Funds & Savings:

- Since Helm left the entertainment industry in the 1980s, her financial stability would have depended on savings from her career earnings, any pension plans from industry unions, and possible investments.

Featured Image Source: imdb.com