Origins & Early Life

Louise Lynn Hay (October 8, 1926 – August 30, 2017) was an American motivational author and professional speaker. She authored several New Thought self-help books, including the 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life, and founded Hay House publishing. Hay was born Helen Vera Lunney in Los Angeles to Henry John Lunney (1901–1998) and Veronica Chwala (1894–1985), Hay recounted her life story in an interview with Mark Oppenheimer of The New York Times in May 2008. In it, Hay stated that she was born in Los Angeles to a poor mother who remarried Louise's violent stepfather, Ernest Carl Wanzenreid (1903–1992), who physically abused her and her mother.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

When she was about five, she was raped by a neighbor. At 15, she dropped out of University High School in Los Angeles without a diploma, became pregnant and, on her 16th birthday, gave up her newborn baby girl for adoption. She then moved to Chicago, where she worked in low-paying jobs. In 1950, she moved on again, to New York. At this point she changed her first name, and began a career as a fashion model.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She achieved success, working for Bill Blass, Oleg Cassini, and Pauline Trigère. In 1954, she married the English businessman...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Alfredo Di Stéfano — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Argentine and Spanish legend, 'The Blond Arrow,' pivotal to Real Madrid's golden era.
• Allen Ginsberg — Contemporary (Born in 1926) (1926): Pioneering American poet, central figure of the Beat Generation, known for 'Howl'.
• Alexei Abrikosov (physicist) — Contemporary (Died in 2017) (2017): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for low-temperature condensed matter physics.
• Ali Abdullah Saleh — Contemporary (Died in 2017) (2017): Yemeni military officer and politician who served as President of Yemen from 1990 to 2012.
• Barbara Cook — Contemporary (Died in 2017) (2017): Iconic American actress and singer, celebrated for Broadway and cabaret artistry.
• Anne-Marie Duff — Shared historical date (10-08 · Born) (1970): Acclaimed British actress known for roles in Shameless and The Virgin Queen.
• Bruno Mars — Shared historical date (10-08 · Born) (1985): Pop icon known for retro showmanship and versatile songwriting.
• Antonio da Correggio — Shared historical date (08-30 · Born) (1489): Master of the Parma School, known for sensuous, dynamic High Renaissance painting.
• Cameron Diaz — Shared historical date (08-30 · Born) (1972): American actress known for comedy and drama, with films grossing over $3 billion.
• 1926 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1926
• October 8 (10-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on October 8
• 2017 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2017
• August 30 (08-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 30