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Martha Sleeper

Martha Sleeper

Acting

June 24, 1910 – March 25, 1983 (died at 72)
Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA
Female
71 Movies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Martha Sleeper (June 24, 1910 – March 25, 1983) was a film actress of the 1920s–1930s and, later, a Broadway stage actress. She studied dancing for five years with Russian ballet master, Louis H. Chalif, at his New York dancing studio. Her first public exhibitions were at Carnegie Hall at his class exhibitions. Sleeper's film career began in 1923 and continued until 1945. Her first screen appearance, at the age of 13, was in The Mailman (1923), an independent production. After appearing in several kiddie comedies at the Christie studio she was signed by the Hal Roach studio for the Our Gang" series but she quickly outgrew that role. From 1925-27 she appeared in comedies playing opposite the studio's most popular male stars. She left the Roach studio in late 1927 and moved to the FBO studio where she starred in six silent features during 1928–29. With the coming of sound she was signed by MGM and placed in their training program. From 1930 to 1936 she played supporting roles in many melodramas her role typically that of a well-bred somewhat snobbish society woman who ends up losing her man to the film's leading lady. Frustrated by the types of roles she was being offered, Martha began playing onstage in and about Los Angeles, at one point drawing raves as Eliza Doolittle in a performance of Pygmalion in 1932. After appearing in some low budget melodramas for the poverty row Monogram studio Martha and her husband, actor Hardie Albright, left Hollywood for New York in 1936 where Martha began a long run in both on- and off-Broadway plays. In 1945, as a favor to director Leo McCarey, Martha played the role of Patsy's mother in The Bells of St. Mary's. It was her last screen role.

The Bells of St. Mary's
The Bells of St. Mary's

The Bells of St. Mary's

1945 6.8

as Mary Gallagher

Age 35 (now 72)
Pass the Gravy
Pass the Gravy

Pass the Gravy

1928 6.6

as Daughter

Age 17 (now 72)
Crazy Like a Fox
Crazy Like a Fox

Crazy Like a Fox

1926 6.2

as The bride

Age 16 (now 72)
Fluttering Hearts
Fluttering Hearts

Fluttering Hearts

1927 5.6

as Daughter

Age 16 (now 72)
The Scoundrel
The Scoundrel

The Scoundrel

1935 6.3

as Julia Vivian

Age 24 (now 72)
Spitfire
Spitfire

Spitfire

1934 5.2

as Eleanor Stafford

Age 23 (now 72)
Along Came Auntie
Along Came Auntie

Along Came Auntie

1926 6.3

as Marie, the Maid

Age 16 (now 72)
Penthouse
Penthouse

Penthouse

1933 6.8

as Sue Leonard

Age 23 (now 72)
Jewish Prudence
Jewish Prudence

Jewish Prudence

1927 6.8

as Rachel Gimplewart

Age 16 (now 72)
Mum's the Word
Mum's the Word

Mum's the Word

1926 6.1

as The Nervous Little Girl

Age 15 (now 72)
Should Tall Men Marry?
Should Tall Men Marry?

Should Tall Men Marry?

1928 6.5

as Martha Skittle

Age 17 (now 72)
Midnight Mary
Midnight Mary

Midnight Mary

1933 6.9

as Barbara

Age 23 (now 72)
Should Sailors Marry?
Should Sailors Marry?

Should Sailors Marry?

1925 5.8

as Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter

Age 15 (now 72)
Long Fliv the King
Long Fliv the King

Long Fliv the King

1926 6.3

as Princess Helga of Thermosa

Age 15 (now 72)
Too Many Mammas
Too Many Mammas

Too Many Mammas

1924 4.7

as The Apache Dancer

Age 14 (now 72)
Bombshell
Bombshell

Bombshell

1933 6.5

as Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)

Age 23 (now 72)