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IMDbPro

Helena Yea

  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
A cigarette smoker who wants to quit the habit quickly and painlessly tries a ancient method... with sinister consequences.
Play trailer1:30
The 30 Second Guaranteed Foolproof Ancient Cantonese Method (2004)
Helena was born and educated in China and came to Canada as a flight attendant for Canadian Pacific Airlines in the 1950's. She married a Canadian pilot in 1953, and began acting in 1985. Since then, she has worked steadily, appearing in over 40 roles for both television and film.

Some of Yea's more memorable shows include the television series Cold Squad, 21 Jump Street (with the then relatively unknown Johnny Depp), and General Hospital. Other TV appearances include CBC's 49th & Main. Yea has also appeared in many roles for feature films, such as Antitrust with Tim Robbins, and a very funny role in Happy Gilmore as Adam Sandler's one night stand. She also had a small role in Uwe Boll's Postal.

A Robson Arms series regular from its inception, Yea returned in Season 3 as the caustic-tongued Tan matriarch.

Yea is also a favorite in commercials that have aired not only nationally in the States and Canada, but globally.

Yea taught piano for 45 years, retiring from in 2004. In 1976 and 1977, she was elected President of the B.C. Division of the prestigious Canadian Music Competitions, and as one of the National Directors of the organization.
Died2021
Died2021
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels

Known for

Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore (1996)
Happy Gilmore
7.0
  • Chinese Lady
  • 1996
Ryan Phillippe, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Claire Forlani in Antitrust (2001)
Antitrust
6.1
  • Grocer's Wife
  • 2001
Tim Curry in Ça (1990)
Ça
6.8
TV Mini Series
  • Rose(as Helena Yee)
Les embrouilles de Will (2000)
Les embrouilles de Will
5.7
  • Aunt Mabel
  • 2000

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress



  • John Cassini, Mark McKinney, and Gabrielle Miller in Robson Arms (2005)
    Robson Arms
    6.2
    TV Series
    • Grandma Tan
    • 2005–2008
  • Dave Foley, Larry Thomas, Jackie Tohn, Verne Troyer, Zack Ward, and Brent Mendenhall in Postal (2007)
    Postal
    4.5
    • Woman Driver
    • 2007
  • Colin Cunningham in The 30 Second Guaranteed Foolproof Ancient Cantonese Method (2004)
    The 30 Second Guaranteed Foolproof Ancient Cantonese Method
    5.1
    Short
    • Grandmother
    • 2004
  • Tom Welling in Smallville (2001)
    Smallville
    7.5
    TV Series
    • Old Lady in Hospital
    • 2004
  • Dead Like Me (2003)
    Dead Like Me
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Older Woman #2
    • 2003
  • Bridget Fonda in La reine des neiges (2002)
    La reine des neiges
    6.5
    TV Mini Series
    • Dressmaker
    • 2002
  • Cold Squad, brigade spéciale (1998)
    Cold Squad, brigade spéciale
    6.9
    TV Series
    • Granny Yan
    • Pearl Lee
    • 1998–2002
  • Richard Thomas, Roger Cross, Shaun Benson, Elizabeth Lackey, and Khaira Ledeyo in Just Cause (2001)
    Just Cause
    6.8
    TV Series
    • Fruit Vendor
    • 2002
  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction (1997)
    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
    7.9
    TV Series
    • (segment "The Mandarin's Bowl")
    • 2002
  • Snoop Dogg in Bones (2001)
    Bones
    4.5
    • Séance Woman
    • 2001
  • Ryan Phillippe, Rachael Leigh Cook, and Claire Forlani in Antitrust (2001)
    Antitrust
    6.1
    • Grocer's Wife
    • 2001
  • Les embrouilles de Will (2000)
    Les embrouilles de Will
    5.7
    • Aunt Mabel
    • 2000
  • Richard Burgi in The Sentinel (1996)
    The Sentinel
    6.5
    TV Series
    • Housekeeper
    • 1996
  • Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore (1996)
    Happy Gilmore
    7.0
    • Chinese Lady
    • 1996
  • Tom Arnold and Rick Moranis in Le souffre-douleur (1996)
    Le souffre-douleur
    4.8
    • Connie TV Guest
    • 1996

Videos1

The 30 Second Guaranteed Foolproof Ancient Cantonese Method
Trailer 1:30
The 30 Second Guaranteed Foolproof Ancient Cantonese Method

Personal details

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  • Alternative name
    • Helena Yee
  • Died
    • 2021

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Plays piano.

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