See also Biography Index (C) :: Filmography Index (C) :: Discography Index (C)

This elegant singer/actress initially had designs becoming an opera singer. Born in Montana on May 20th, 1933, and christened Constance Mary Towers, she appeared on radio as a child singer. Her family moved to New York where she subsequently studied at the Julliard School of Music and the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts (AADA). A chance casting in a summer production of "Carousel" led her away from her operatic aspirations and into the musical theater arena. Before she settled into this, however, she gained early exposure on the chic nightclub circuit and fostered an attempt at stardom via films. She co-starred with Frankie Laine playing a school teacher in the modest movie musical Bring Your Smilie Along(1955), and appeared in exceptionally strong ingenue roles in the movie dramas The Horse Soldiers(1959) starring John Wayne and Sergeant Rutledge(1960) opposite Jeffrey Hunter. Director Samuel Fuller cast her against type in some of his highly offbeat dramas in the early 1960s. She played a stripper girlfriend in Shock Corridor(1963) and in The Naked Kiss(1964) gave a no-holds-barred performance as a former prostitute trying to clean up her act. Films, however, were few and far between.

By this time she was starting to settle in as a pristine musical leading lady. After a 1960 performance as missionary Sarah in "Guys and Dolls," Constance made her Broadway debut in the title role of "Anya"(1965), in which she played the title role of the Russian princess Anastasia. Heralded performances in "Carousel"(1966) and "The Sound of Music"(1967), in which she won the Outer Critic`s Circle Award as Maria, not to mention a Broadway revival of "The King and I" opposite Yul Brynner truly put her on the musical map. Her run with Brynner lasted nearly 800 performances. She had earlier played the school teacher Anna off-Broadway opposite Michael Kermoyan in 1972. Other sterling stage appearances included "Kiss Me Kate," "42nd Street," "Oklahoma!," "Camelot" and "Mame." She also starred in the musical "Ari," an adaptation of the Leon Uris novel "Exodus."

TV proved a sturdy medium as well. In her early days she made singing appearances on Ed Sullivan`s "Toast of the Town" and, in dramatic role, was a frequent glamorous suspect on "Perry Mason." As she matured, her sharp, glacial, strikingly handsome features also worked very well for her in unsympathetic aristocratic roles on daytime. Winnig regular spots on "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," The Young and The Restless" and "Sunset Beach," she did her most consistent work on "Capitol"(1982), in which she played Clarissa McCandless for five seasons. She is currently courting favor with audiences and stealing scenes on a regular basis on "General Hospital"(1963), in which she plays, at age 72, the inherently wicked Helena Cassadine, a role originated by the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. Recent films have included "The Next Karate Kid"(1994), "The Relic"(1997) and "A Perfect Murder"(1998) starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, in which she played Paltrow`s mother. Constance also enjoyed a resurgence on prime-time TV with a sprinkling of guest parts on "L.A. Law," "Designing Women," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Caroline in the City," "Frasier," "Baywatch," and "Providence." She received an Emmy nomination for her role in the single episode drama special "Once In Her Life."

Constance has been married since 1974 to one-time actor and former Mexi