Advertisement
Advertisement
1
Hanft Family History & Genealogy
340 biographies
and
11 photos
with the Hanft last name.
Discover the family history, nationality, origin and common names of Hanft family members.
ADVERTISEMENT
BY ANCESTRY.COM
Find Hanft records
Advertisement
Hanft Last Name History & Origin
AddHistory
We don't have any information on the history of the Hanft name. Have information to share?
Name Origin
We don't have any information on the origins of the Hanft name. Have information to share?
Spellings & Pronunciations
We don't have any alternate spellings or pronunciation information on the Hanft name. Have information to share?
Nationality & Ethnicity
We don't have any information on the nationality / ethnicity of the Hanft name. Have information to share?
Famous People named Hanft
Are there famous people from the Hanft family? Share their story.
Early Hanfts
These are the earliest records we have of the Hanft family.
Ernest Hanft of West Sayville, Suffolk County, NY was born on January 26, 1877, and died at age 90 years old in December 1967.
Minnie Hanft of Holtsville, Suffolk County, NY was born on July 13, 1877, and died at age 92 years old in March 1970.
Edward Hanft of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota was born on August 29, 1878, and died at age 87 years old in March 1966.
Lulu Hanft of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota was born on January 21, 1879, and died at age 88 years old in May 1967.
Marie Hanft of Chipley, Washington County, Florida was born in September 1880, and died at age 94 years old in July 1975.
Olive Hanft of Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa was born on February 27, 1882, and died at age 91 years old in February 1973.
Sol Hanft of Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina was born on December 8, 1883, and died at age 84 years old in November 1968.
Alwyn Hanft of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, FL was born on December 28, 1883, and died at age 93 years old in February 1977.
Charles Hanft of New Athens, Saint Clair County, Illinois was born on April 8, 1884, and died at age 83 years old in March 1968.
Hanft Family Photos
Discover Hanft family photos shared by the community. These photos contain people and places related to the Hanft last name.
Helen Hanft
A public memorial for actress Helen Hanft will be held on tonight, July 14 at 7 PM in the Ellington Room at Manhattan Plaza, 400 W. 43 St. (Ninth Ave. building).
Hanft, one of the pivotal figures in the history of New York's experimental theater movement of the 1960's and 70's, created numerous roles at Caffe Cino and La Mama ETC and was a particular favorite of playwright Tom Eyen, who starred her in such hits as "Women Behind Bars," "The Neon Woman" and her signature role, "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down."
Hanft also worked frequently for screen directors Paul Mazursky ("Next Stop Greenwich Village," "Willie and Phil") and Woody Allen ("Manhattan," "Stardust Memories," "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "New York Stories") and was also seen in such other films as "Arthur" with Dudley Moore, "Moonstruck" with Cher, "Used People" with Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastroianni, and such comedies as "Dummy" and "License to Drive. She also played a variety of eccentric New York characters over the years on various editions of "Law and Order."
Hanft, the loudmouthed comedic actress who was one of the leading stars of the off-off Broadway movement of the 1960's and 70's and became a particular favorite of such writer-directors as Woody Allen, Paul Mazursky and Tom Eyen, died of intestinal complications on Thursday, May 30 at Roosevelt Hospital in New York. She was 79.
Born in the Bronx on April 3, 1934, she attended the High School of Performing Arts and began her theatrical career as a pioneer of experimental theatre at such venues as La Mama ETC and Caffe Cino, where she was soon known as "the Helen Hayes of Off-Off Broadway." Though not a great beauty, she nevertheless commanded the stage with an Ethel Merman-like bravura and a comedic ability to satirize her sexuality. She often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in a string of Tom Eyen comedies including such early works as "Sarah B. Divine," "Areatha in the Ice Palace" and "My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty" and his more commercial hits like "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down," "Women Behind Bars," "The Neon Woman" (in which she co-starred with Divine), and "The White W**** and the Bit Player," which was also the first movie to be produced by the Cannon Film Group" featuring the original stage cast. She also had a great personal success in Dave Rabe's "In the Boom Boom Room" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater.
In the mid-1970's, she also began appearing in movies and had strong character roles in Woody Allen's "Manhattan," "Stardust Memories," "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "New York Stories," Paul Mazursky's "Next Stop Greenwich Village" and "Willie and Phil," "Arthur" with Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli, John Schlesinger's "Honky Tonk Freeway," "Moonstruck" with Cher, the 1988 comedy "License to Drive," "Used People" with Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastroianni, "Dummy" with Adrien Brody, and more recently "Noise" with Tim Robbins, "Puccini For Beginners" with Gretchen Mol, and "When Evening Comes" with Philip Bosco and Anne Meara in 2009.
She also had numerous TV roles and and played a wide assortment of characters on "Law and Order," appearing frequently throughout the show's long run.
She is survived by her sister, Sarah Louise Comma, a niece Anne Lopez and two nephews Benito Comma and Moses Danzer.
Pictured: Stuart and Helen Hanft at "Broadway Musicals of 1931" at the Town Hall in 2009. Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy.
Hanft, one of the pivotal figures in the history of New York's experimental theater movement of the 1960's and 70's, created numerous roles at Caffe Cino and La Mama ETC and was a particular favorite of playwright Tom Eyen, who starred her in such hits as "Women Behind Bars," "The Neon Woman" and her signature role, "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down."
Hanft also worked frequently for screen directors Paul Mazursky ("Next Stop Greenwich Village," "Willie and Phil") and Woody Allen ("Manhattan," "Stardust Memories," "The Purple Rose of Cairo," "New York Stories") and was also seen in such other films as "Arthur" with Dudley Moore, "Moonstruck" with Cher, "Used People" with Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastroianni, and such comedies as "Dummy" and "License to Drive. She also played a variety of eccentric New York characters over the years on various editions of "Law and Order."
Hanft, the loudmouthed comedic actress who was one of the leading stars of the off-off Broadway movement of the 1960's and 70's and became a particular favorite of such writer-directors as Woody Allen, Paul Mazursky and Tom Eyen, died of intestinal complications on Thursday, May 30 at Roosevelt Hospital in New York. She was 79.
Born in the Bronx on April 3, 1934, she attended the High School of Performing Arts and began her theatrical career as a pioneer of experimental theatre at such venues as La Mama ETC and Caffe Cino, where she was soon known as "the Helen Hayes of Off-Off Broadway." Though not a great beauty, she nevertheless commanded the stage with an Ethel Merman-like bravura and a comedic ability to satirize her sexuality. She often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in a string of Tom Eyen comedies including such early works as "Sarah B. Divine," "Areatha in the Ice Palace" and "My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty" and his more commercial hits like "Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down," "Women Behind Bars," "The Neon Woman" (in which she co-starred with Divine), and "The White W**** and the Bit Player," which was also the first movie to be produced by the Cannon Film Group" featuring the original stage cast. She also had a great personal success in Dave Rabe's "In the Boom Boom Room" at Joseph Papp's Public Theater.
In the mid-1970's, she also began appearing in movies and had strong character roles in Woody Allen's "Manhattan," "Stardust Memories," "The Purple Rose of Cairo" and "New York Stories," Paul Mazursky's "Next Stop Greenwich Village" and "Willie and Phil," "Arthur" with Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli, John Schlesinger's "Honky Tonk Freeway," "Moonstruck" with Cher, the 1988 comedy "License to Drive," "Used People" with Shirley MacLaine and Marcello Mastroianni, "Dummy" with Adrien Brody, and more recently "Noise" with Tim Robbins, "Puccini For Beginners" with Gretchen Mol, and "When Evening Comes" with Philip Bosco and Anne Meara in 2009.
She also had numerous TV roles and and played a wide assortment of characters on "Law and Order," appearing frequently throughout the show's long run.
She is survived by her sister, Sarah Louise Comma, a niece Anne Lopez and two nephews Benito Comma and Moses Danzer.
Pictured: Stuart and Helen Hanft at "Broadway Musicals of 1931" at the Town Hall in 2009. Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter-Keddy.
People tagged:
Lenny Baker, Lou Jacobi & Helen Hanft
A photo of Leonard "Lenny" Baker with Lou Jacobi and Helen Hanft
People tagged:
Advertisement
Advertisement
Hanft Family Tree
Discover the most common names, oldest records and life expectancy of people with the last name Hanft.
Updated Hanft Biographies
John J Hanft of Port Jervis, Orange County, NY was born on June 17, 1922, and died at age 72 years old in January 1995.
Wendell E Hanft of Cumberland, Allegany County, MD was born on December 31, 1924, and died at age 73 years old on October 7, 1998.
Harold Hanft of Bergenfield, Bergen County, NJ was born on April 14, 1917, and died at age 66 years old in August 1983.
Roddy E Hanft of Charleston, Coles County, IL was born on February 19, 1924, and died at age 78 years old on February 16, 2003.
Walter A Hanft of Sewickley, Allegheny County, PA was born on May 8, 1913, and died at age 67 years old in April 1981.
William Warren Hanft of Texas was born on June 15, 1939, and died at age 68 years old on November 28, 2007.
Alfred J Hanft of Floral Park, Queens County, NY was born on November 6, 1918, and died at age 70 years old on December 15, 1988.
Gerald M Hanft of Milton, Pierce County, WA was born on June 26, 1920, and died at age 82 years old on December 6, 2002.
Charles Hanft of Hampton Bays, Suffolk County, NY was born on December 1, 1917, and died at age 83 years old on September 3, 2001. Charles Hanft was buried at Calverton National Cemetery
Section 23 Site 3073 210 Princeton Boulevard - Rt 25, in Calverton.
Robert F Hanft of Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa was born on August 29, 1908, and died at age 77 years old in June 1986.
Richard D Hanft of Highland, Lake County, IN was born on March 20, 1926, and died at age 75 years old on August 10, 2001.
Monroe E Hanft of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota was born on March 11, 1917, and died at age 61 years old in August 1978.
Randel F Hanft of Covina, Los Angeles County, California was born on March 7, 1915, and died at age 65 years old in June 1980.
Amanda (Freymann) Hanft was born on March 7, 1902 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa United States, and died at age 80 years old on April 1, 1982 at Dyer, IN, USA in Dyer, Lake County, IN. Amanda Hanft was buried at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens 8178 Cline Ave, in Crown Point. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Amanda (Freymann) Hanft.
Lyle Roy Hanft was born on April 12, 1900 in Columbus Junction, Iowa United States, and died at age 72 years old on April 1, 1973 at mercy hospital in dyer, IN. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lyle Roy Hanft.
Elizabeth Lillian Hanft of Bridgewater, Somerset County, NJ was born on January 24, 1918, and died at age 85 years old on January 28, 2003. Elizabeth Hanft was buried at Florida National Cemetery
Section 320 Site 1440 Sw. 102nd Ave., in Bushnell, Fl.
Helen Hanft
Born April 4, 1934
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died May 30, 2013 (aged 79)
New York, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1960–2013
Helen Hanft (April 4, 1934 – May 30, 2013) was an American actress.
Life and career
Hanft was born in The Bronx, the eldest of three daughters born to Esther and Benjamin Hanft. Her father was a prominent public relations executive for several national Jewish organizations.
Hanft was persuaded by her father to audition for the High School of Performing Arts, now part of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and she won admission.
Hanft started her theatrical career in the early 1960s during the Golden Age of experimental theater at such venues as La MaMa E.T.C. and Caffe Cino, and in a few years she became known as "the Ethel Merman of off-off Broadway" for her comedic talent. She often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in many successful plays like Tom Eyen's Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down, The White W**** and the Bit Player (she also appeared in the Cannon Films version of the play), Areatha in the Ice Palace, My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty, Give My Regards to Off Off Broadway, Women Behind Bars, Italian American Reconciliation, and The Neon Woman (the last co-starring Divine). She had great success in the David Rabe play In the Boom Boom Room at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. She appeared in many Off-Off Broadway plays by Tom Eyen. and Stephen Holt. She appeared in "The Dirty Little Girl with the Paper Flower in Her Hair Is Demented", "Who Killed My Bald Sister Sophie", "Reety in Hell", "The Kitty Glitter Story", "Stoop", "Bambi Levine, Please Shut Up!", and as Judy Garland dying in her bathroom in "London Loo". She appeared as herself in two documentary features, Beautiful Darling about Candy Darlng, and I Am Divine, about the life of the performer Divine.
In the middle 1970s Hanft began appearing in movies, sometimes in cameo roles, including the Woody Allen films Manhattan (1979), Stardust Memories (1980), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) and Allen's segment from New York Stories (1989). She was also a favorite of Paul Mazursky, who cast her in Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) and Willie & Phil (1980). Other film appearances include Arthur (1981), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), Moonstruck (1987), License to Drive (1988), Coming to America (1988) and Used People (1992). In the late 1990s she began appearing on episodes of Law & Order, while continuing to make the occasional stage appearance in New York City.
Personal life
Her husband, William Landers, predeceased her, as did her younger sister, Alice. She is survived by her other sister, Sarah Comma.
Death
Helen Hanft died on May 30, 2013 of a post-surgical intestinal blockage, in Manhattan.
Kenneth Jon Hanft of Zimmerman, Sherburne County, MN was born on December 1, 1969, and died at age 33 years old on October 18, 2003. Kenneth Hanft was buried at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery
Section L Site 1570 7601 34th Avenue, South, in Minneapolis.
Sonia Luz Hanft was born on November 5, 1940, and died at age 28 years old on May 1, 1969. Sonia Hanft was buried at Puerto Rico National Cemetery
Section G Site 197 #50 Avenida Cementerio Nacional, in Bayamon, Pr. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sonia Luz Hanft.
Popular Hanft Biographies
Lyle Roy Hanft was born on April 12, 1900 in Columbus Junction, Iowa United States, and died at age 72 years old on April 1, 1973 at mercy hospital in dyer, IN. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lyle Roy Hanft.
Helen Hanft
Born April 4, 1934
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
Died May 30, 2013 (aged 79)
New York, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1960–2013
Helen Hanft (April 4, 1934 – May 30, 2013) was an American actress.
Life and career
Hanft was born in The Bronx, the eldest of three daughters born to Esther and Benjamin Hanft. Her father was a prominent public relations executive for several national Jewish organizations.
Hanft was persuaded by her father to audition for the High School of Performing Arts, now part of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and she won admission.
Hanft started her theatrical career in the early 1960s during the Golden Age of experimental theater at such venues as La MaMa E.T.C. and Caffe Cino, and in a few years she became known as "the Ethel Merman of off-off Broadway" for her comedic talent. She often played eccentric, flamboyant, raunchy characters in many successful plays like Tom Eyen's Why Hanna's Skirt Won't Stay Down, The White W**** and the Bit Player (she also appeared in the Cannon Films version of the play), Areatha in the Ice Palace, My Next Husband Will Be a Beauty, Give My Regards to Off Off Broadway, Women Behind Bars, Italian American Reconciliation, and The Neon Woman (the last co-starring Divine). She had great success in the David Rabe play In the Boom Boom Room at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. She appeared in many Off-Off Broadway plays by Tom Eyen. and Stephen Holt. She appeared in "The Dirty Little Girl with the Paper Flower in Her Hair Is Demented", "Who Killed My Bald Sister Sophie", "Reety in Hell", "The Kitty Glitter Story", "Stoop", "Bambi Levine, Please Shut Up!", and as Judy Garland dying in her bathroom in "London Loo". She appeared as herself in two documentary features, Beautiful Darling about Candy Darlng, and I Am Divine, about the life of the performer Divine.
In the middle 1970s Hanft began appearing in movies, sometimes in cameo roles, including the Woody Allen films Manhattan (1979), Stardust Memories (1980), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) and Allen's segment from New York Stories (1989). She was also a favorite of Paul Mazursky, who cast her in Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976) and Willie & Phil (1980). Other film appearances include Arthur (1981), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), Moonstruck (1987), License to Drive (1988), Coming to America (1988) and Used People (1992). In the late 1990s she began appearing on episodes of Law & Order, while continuing to make the occasional stage appearance in New York City.
Personal life
Her husband, William Landers, predeceased her, as did her younger sister, Alice. She is survived by her other sister, Sarah Comma.
Death
Helen Hanft died on May 30, 2013 of a post-surgical intestinal blockage, in Manhattan.
Amanda (Freymann) Hanft was born on March 7, 1902 in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa United States, and died at age 80 years old on April 1, 1982 at Dyer, IN, USA in Dyer, Lake County, IN. Amanda Hanft was buried at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens 8178 Cline Ave, in Crown Point. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Amanda (Freymann) Hanft.
Adam Hanft of Grantsville, Garrett County, Maryland was born on January 3, 1893, and died at age 87 years old in April 1980.
Barrie N Hanft of El Paso, El Paso County, TX was born on August 31, 1936, and died at age 67 years old on July 22, 2004.
Milford Hanft of Yonkers, Westchester County, NY was born on February 14, 1897 in Manhattan County, and died at age 82 years old in June 1979.
Kathryn Hanft of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida was born on March 28, 1894, and died at age 78 years old in March 1972.
Arthur Hanft of Minnesota was born on February 22, 1886, and died at age 76 years old in September 1962.
Leo Hanft of Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois was born on November 26, 1890, and died at age 82 years old in March 1973.
Clarice E Hanft of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN was born on July 5, 1899, and died at age 88 years old on March 29, 1988.
Minnie Hanft of Holtsville, Suffolk County, NY was born on July 13, 1877, and died at age 92 years old in March 1970.
Edward Hanft of Mesa, Maricopa County, AZ was born on April 28, 1921, and died at age 65 years old in August 1986.
Blanche M Hanft of Hartville, Stark County, OH was born on July 22, 1919, and died at age 75 years old in June 1995.
Philip Hanft was born on May 29, 1915, and died at age 45 years old in August 1960. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Philip Hanft.
Joan Hanft of Agoura Hills, Los Angeles County, CA was born on April 8, 1935, and died at age 63 years old on May 2, 1998.
John Hanft of Charleston, Coles County, Illinois was born on November 12, 1898, and died at age 75 years old in October 1974.
Ethel W Hanft of Muscatine, Muscatine County, IA was born on April 16, 1911, and died at age 91 years old on November 30, 2002.
Hanft Death Records & Life Expectancy
The average age of a Hanft family member is 75.0 years old according to our database of 332 people with the last name Hanft that have a birth and death date listed.
Life Expectancy
75.0
years
Oldest Hanfts
These are the longest-lived members of the Hanft family on AncientFaces.
Walter R Hanft of Madison, New Haven County, CT was born on December 4, 1900 in Manhattan County, NY, and died at age 99 years old on December 18, 1999.
Helen Hanft of Brick, Ocean County, NJ was born on April 9, 1898, and died at age 98 years old on August 29, 1996.
Irene K Hanft of Elberta, Baldwin County, AL was born on August 15, 1900, and died at age 98 years old on September 22, 1998.
Lillie Hanft of Toms River, Ocean County, NJ was born on March 8, 1891, and died at age 97 years old on March 21, 1988.
Jennie E Hanft of Columbus Junction, Louisa County, IA was born on September 16, 1896, and died at age 95 years old on January 16, 1992.
Ruth Elizabeth Hanft of Twentynine Palms, San Bernardino County, California was born on September 21, 1915, and died at age 95 years old on March 10, 2011.
Marie Hanft of Chipley, Washington County, Florida was born in September 1880, and died at age 94 years old in July 1975.
Violet W Hanft of Jacksonville, Duval County, FL was born on April 21, 1906, and died at age 95 years old on October 1, 2001.
Jessie M Hanft of Debary, Volusia County, FL was born on May 1, 1911, and died at age 94 years old on March 2, 2006.
Adam T Hanft was born on February 24, 1895, and died at age 95 years old on November 4, 1990. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Adam T Hanft.
James F Hanft of Raleigh, Wake County, NC was born on June 3, 1916, and died at age 94 years old on March 11, 2011.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Other Hanft Records
ADVERTISEMENT
BY ANCESTRY.COM
Find Hanft records
Advertisement
Share memories about your Hanft family
Leave comments and ask questions related to the Hanft family.
Followers & Sources
