Cynthia Lynn

Cynthia Lynn (born Zinta Valda Ziemelis;[1] April 2, 1937 – March 10, 2014) was a Latvian-American actress.[2]

Cynthia Lynn
Lynn as Fräulein Helga in Hogan's Heroes, c. 1965
Born
Zinta Valda Ziemelis

(1937-04-02)April 2, 1937
Riga, Latvia
DiedMarch 10, 2014(2014-03-10) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1962–1975
Known forHogan's Heroes
Children2

Early life

Lynn was born in Riga, Latvia, as Zinta Valda Ziemelis.[3] At age eight, she and her mother, Alisa, fled the country prior to the Soviet re-occupation of Latvia in 1944 during World War II, eventually arriving in the United States in 1950.[4]

Career

Lynn is best known as "Fräulein Helga", Colonel Klink's original secretary in Hogan's Heroes during the first season (1965–1966). The role was played by Sigrid Valdis as "Hilda" in the next five seasons. Lynn returned to the series in the 1968 and 1971 episodes "Will the Blue Baron Strike Again" and "Easy Come, Easy Go", respectively. Her last acting role was in 1975 in an episode of Harry O.[3] She also appeared in such television series as Gidget Grows Up, Mission: Impossible, The Odd Couple, Love American Style, and The Six Million Dollar Man.[3]

Lynn wrote an autobiography, Escape to Freedom, in 2000, with the assistance of Edward Ansara.[4]

Personal life

Lynn was romantically involved with actor Marlon Brando. After Brando's death in 2004, Lynn's daughter, Lisa, claimed that her mother and Brando's short-lived affair resulted in her birth in 1964.[3] Lynn had also been in a romantic relationship with Hogan's Heroes costar Bob Crane.[3]

Death

Lynn died on March 10, 2014, at age 76, from multiple organ failure after being stricken with hepatitis.[5] She is survived by her daughter, Lisa, and son, Tony.[3]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1964Honeymoon HotelMrs. ChristopherUncredited
1964Bedtime StoryFrieda

References
  1. "Latvietes karjēra Holivudā". www.periodika.lv (in Latvian). 2 August 1961. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. "Cynthia Lynn, Helga on 'Hogan's Heroes', dies 76". Hollywood Memorial. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. Saperstein, Pat (11 March 2014). "'Hogan's Heroes' Star Cynthia Lynn Dies at 76". Variety. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. Ansara, Edward (2000). Escape to Freedom: An Autobiography of Cynthia Lynn. 1st Book Library. ISBN 9781588206466.
  5. "Cynthia Lynn, One Of The Last Surviving 'Hogan's Heroes' Stars, Dies". TMZ. 11 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
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