MARG HELGENBERGER: CSI STAR UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
Steppin’ Out Magazine
September 10, 2003
Every September, Marg Helgenberger goes back to Omaha, Neb., to host charity events – including a huge golf tournament – in conjunction with National Breast Cancer Awareness month.
It means everything to the start of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, whose mother, Kay, is a breast cancer survivor, still leading a happy, healthy life 23 years after being diagnosed and treated for the often-terminal disease. Early detection and quality medical care saved her life.
Her mother’s chilling ordeal could not have come at a worse time.
“Sometimes, my family history reads like a tragedy,” says Helgenberger, drawing a deep breath. “My mother had just undergone a double mastectomy and chemotherapy when she found out that my father, Hugh, had developed multiple sclerosis. When she found out that Dad was sick, she literally willed herself to get better because she knew that she had to take care of him.”
“I really believe that a strong person has a much greater chance of surviving a serious illness than someone who is not,” she continues slowly. “And my mom, a trained nurse who has the strength of two people, was not to be denied. She eventually went back to school and earned a degree in social sciences in order to help heart patients with their rehabilitation programs.”
A stunned, horrified and helpless Helgenberger could just stand by and watch her father’s condition deteriorate rapidly over a period of five years.
“My dad – who made a living as a (USDA) meat inspector – was a vigorous outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. After her became ill, he spent hours just looking out the window.”
The native Nebraskan, who was born in Fremont (population 20,000) and raised in North Bend (population 1,200) along with two siblings, could only visit her family every three months during the crucial period she was earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech and Drama at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
“That’s why I saw the impact of MS so clearly,” she recalls. “He swelled up from the cortisone shots; he never went into remission.”
Ironically, Helgenberger, 44, learned invaluable lessons about life from her determined parents at the very low points in their lives.
“Ultimately, I discovered that catastrophic illnesses affect the family relationships in many good and bad ways,” she says softly. “When there is trauma, you have to discuss whatever is going on – even if it seems selfish and needy. Denial only leads to weird things.”
The image of her suffering father still lingers, but she has gradually learned to let things go and take comfort from her good fortune in the present.
“My dad was a great guy and a generous soul who never asked, ‘Why me?’ says Helgenberger. “His attitude was always, ‘Let’s try to get through this the best we can.’ And when it was over, I understood my mother like never before.”
And life continues at blinding speed for Helgenberger. She and her husband – actor Alan Rosenberg (Alvin Masterson on The Guardian series) – named their son Hugh in her father’s honor.
“I guess just about everything I do revolves around my family,” she says, laughing, “which means the tabloids leave me alone. Why? There is nothing to report, because I lead a dull life. It’s not like I’m going out with a 22-year old guy…I’m sorry, but my marriage isn’t in trouble and I haven’t developed a drug habit.”
In her spare time, CSI‘s Catherine Willows prefers to concentrate on remodeling and refurbishing her home in Santa Monica, Calif., a lovely Spanish-Mediterranean house built for the silent-film cowboy star William S. Hart.
“I think we’ll keep the banister to the second floor, made of wrought iron shaped into little hearts. This has been going on for months, basically gutting the kitchen, bathroom and expanding the family room.”
The last time Rosenberg worked with his wife was on the low-budge independent thriller After Midnight, a dog that went to video from limited release in approximately 30 seconds. Fortunately, it wasn’t long enough to ruin Helgenberger’s impressive career, which now includes two dozen feature films, ranging from The Cowboy Way and Bad Boys to Species II and Erin Brockovich.
Before CSI catapulted her to the top of the TV heap, Helgenberger garnered invaluable experiences on scores of telefilms and miniseries.
“This is the best day job I’ve ever had,” she deadpans. “What’s even more exciting is that when a show goes to the top, you become a part of the pop culture landscape. Your character becomes an icon, a role model. It is very special to me that women of all ages find me inspiring, because I play someone strong and smart who doesn’t have to squander her femininity in the workplace.”