Movies
TV Shows
People

Martha Sleeper

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
70

Gender
Female

Birthday
June 24, 1910 (116 years old)

Place of Birth
Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA

Martha Sleeper

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

1961Days of Thrills and Laughteras Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1945The Bells of St. Mary'sas Mary Gallagher
1936Four Days Wonderas Nancy Fairbrother
1936Rhythm on the Rangeas Constance Hyde
1935Two Sinnersas Elsie Summerstone
1935The Scoundrelas Julia Vivian
1935Great God Goldas Marcia Harper
1934West of the Pecosas Ril Lambeth
1934Tomorrow's Youthas Ellen Hall
1934Hollywood Partyas Show Girl (uncredited)
1934Spitfireas Eleanor Stafford
1933Broken Dreamsas Martha Morley
1933Bombshellas Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)
1933Penthouseas Sue Leonard
1933Midnight Maryas Barbara
1933The Secret of Madame Blancheas Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited)
1932Rasputin and the Empressas Party Girl (uncredited)
1932Huddleas Barbara
1931Confessions of a Co-Edas Lucille
1931A Tailor-Made Manas Corrine
1931Girls Demand Excitementas Harriet Mundy
1931Ten Cents a Danceas Nancy Clark
1930War Nurseas Helen
1930Madam Satanas Fish Girl
1930Our Blushing Bridesas Evelyn Woodforth
1929The Voice of the Stormas Ruth
1929The Air Legionas Sally
1928Taxi 13as Flora Mactavish
1928Danger Streetas Kitty
1928Skinner's Big Ideaas Dorothy
1928The Little Yellow Houseas Emmy Milburn
1928Should Tall Men Marry?as Martha Skittle
1928Pass the Gravyas Daughter
1927Flaming Fathersas Daughter
1927Fighting Fathersas Max's Daughter
1927Love 'em and Feed 'emas Martha, a stenographer
1927Fluttering Heartsas Daughter
1927Jewish Prudenceas Rachel Gimplewart
1927The Honorable Mr. Buggsas The Fiancée
1926Bromo and Julietas Bit Role (uncredited)
1926Crazy Like a Foxas The bride
1926Along Came Auntieas Marie, the Maid
1926Thundering Fleasas Bride
1926Long Fliv the Kingas Princess Helga of Thermosa
1926Don Key (Son of Burro)as
1926Say It with Babiesas Hector's Wife
1926Mum's the Wordas The Nervous Little Girl
1926Madame Mysteryas
1926What's the World Coming To?as The Butler
1926A Punch in the Noseas
1925Should Sailors Marry?as Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter
1925Better Moviesas Teenaged 'Vamp'
1925Innocent Husbandsas Girl at Party (uncredited)
1925Sherlock Sleuthas Hotel Telephone Operator
1925Sure-Mike!as Vermuda
1925Big Red Riding Hoodas Book store clerk
1925Bad Boyas Jimmie's Girl Friend
1925Plain and Fancy Girlsas Fiance
1925The Rat's Knucklesas Flirty McFickle
1925There Goes the Brideas Imogene-the Bride
1925Laughing Ladiesas
1924The Royal Razzas
1924Too Many Mammasas The Apache Dancer
1924Outdoor Pajamasas Girl with Runaway Pony
1924Sweet Daddyas Daughter
1924Seeing Nellie Homeas
1924A Ten-Minute Eggas Mrs. Dugan
1924The Racing Kidas
1924All Wetas Boarding house maid (uncredited)
1923The Mailmanas Betty

Production

1964Sex and the College Girl...Costume Supervisor