An Actress Mourned

The passing of Eileen Heckart on Dec. 31 was especially poignant. “Hecky,” as she was affectionately known in the theater world, was not only a gifted performer with a marvelous range but also a woman of warmth, intense loyalty and simply a great joy to be around.

I first met Hecky when, as a young ex-GI, I joined the Professional Training Program of the American Theatre Wing in New York. She was a volunteer actress who helped develop our skills in scenes from plays and in showcases.

Hecky and I, fellow Ohioans, became good friends; she was supportive and proud, indeed, when some of us made our Broadway debuts. She was effusive and compassionate, with a raucous laugh that seemed to say, “Isn’t this a great time we’re having!”

FREDD WAYNE

Santa Monica