Helen Slater
She first soared as the big screen's Supergirl, then built a lasting career defined by musical talent and nuanced character roles.
Born 1963 (age 63)·American actress and singer-songwriter·Birthday: December 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Helen Slater became an instant symbol of superheroic hope at age 21, starring in the 1984 film 'Supergirl'. While the movie's reception was mixed, Slater's earnest and graceful performance left a mark. Rather than be confined by the cape, she deftly pivoted, showing her range in the cult favorite 'The Legend of Billie Jean' and delivering sharp comic support in hits like 'Ruthless People' and 'City Slickers'. Parallel to her acting, a deep passion for music has always pulsed—she is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has released several albums of original folk-pop. The superhero world gracefully came full circle decades later when she played Supergirl's adoptive mother, Eliza Danvers, on the CW television series, and earlier, Lara-El in 'Smallville'. Slater's career is a study in longevity and versatility, moving from silver-screen icon to respected working actress and musician with quiet grace and consistent talent.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Helen was born in 1963, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Helen Was Born
The biggest hits of 1963
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Best Picture
Tom Jones
#1 TV Show
Beverly Hillbillies
Helen's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1963Born
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1968Started school
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1976Became a teenager
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Could drive
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1981Could vote
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Turned 21
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1993Turned 30
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 40
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 50
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 60
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 63 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred in the title role of the 1984 feature film 'Supergirl'.
- Released multiple studio albums as a singer-songwriter, including 'One of These Days' and 'Expecting'.
- Portrayed Eliza Danvers, the adoptive mother of the title character, on the CBS/CW series 'Supergirl'.
- Received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in 'Supergirl'.
Did You Know?
She is a classically trained pianist and studied at the High School of Performing Arts in New York.
Slater is married to award-winning film editor Robert Watzke.
She provided the voice of Talia al Ghul in 'Batman: The Animated Series'.
She co-wrote and performed the song 'I'll Be Your Shelter' for the film 'The Legend of Billie Jean'.
“I flew in a movie once, but I prefer to keep my feet on the ground.”
