Helen Slayton-Hughes

Helen Slayton-Hughes was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Ralph Emil Slayton and Helen (Peer) Slayton in 1930, one of four siblings. Her family includes a lot of performers. Peter Dinklage is a first cousin, once removed. Her mother, Helen, and maternal aunts Florence Peer (m. Dinklage) and Edna Peer (m. Cardinell) all used the last name "Pierre" when they sang in George M. Cohan musicals before marrying and settling down. One of Slayton-Hughes's brothers, Richard Slayton, spent his entire career with Ringling Brothers Circus, including three years as the top-hatted Ringmaster. He married a beautiful elephant-riding, trapeze-climbing chorus girl, and they brought up their three children on the circus train as well as in a trailer. Another brother, Ralph Slayton, established and ran the Children's Theater of Herkimer, New York, directing dozens of plays. Slayton-Hughes earned a Bachelor's degree in Drama from Syracuse University, and a Master's in Communications from Rensselaer Polyt