Known For
Acting
Known Credits
70
Gender
Female
Birthday
June 24, 1910 (116 years old)
Place of Birth
Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA
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.
| 1961 | Days of Thrills and Laughteras Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | The Bells of St. Mary'sas Mary Gallagher | |
| 1936 | Four Days Wonderas Nancy Fairbrother | |
| 1936 | Rhythm on the Rangeas Constance Hyde | |
| 1935 | Two Sinnersas Elsie Summerstone | |
| 1935 | The Scoundrelas Julia Vivian | |
| 1935 | Great God Goldas Marcia Harper | |
| 1934 | West of the Pecosas Ril Lambeth | |
| 1934 | Tomorrow's Youthas Ellen Hall | |
| 1934 | Hollywood Partyas Show Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1934 | Spitfireas Eleanor Stafford | |
| 1933 | Broken Dreamsas Martha Morley | |
| 1933 | Bombshellas Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | Penthouseas Sue Leonard | |
| 1933 | Midnight Maryas Barbara | |
| 1933 | The Secret of Madame Blancheas Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Rasputin and the Empressas Party Girl (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | Huddleas Barbara | |
| 1931 | Confessions of a Co-Edas Lucille | |
| 1931 | A Tailor-Made Manas Corrine | |
| 1931 | Girls Demand Excitementas Harriet Mundy | |
| 1931 | Ten Cents a Danceas Nancy Clark | |
| 1930 | War Nurseas Helen | |
| 1930 | Madam Satanas Fish Girl | |
| 1930 | Our Blushing Bridesas Evelyn Woodforth | |
| 1929 | The Voice of the Stormas Ruth | |
| 1929 | The Air Legionas Sally | |
| 1928 | Taxi 13as Flora Mactavish | |
| 1928 | Danger Streetas Kitty | |
| 1928 | Skinner's Big Ideaas Dorothy | |
| 1928 | The Little Yellow Houseas Emmy Milburn | |
| 1928 | Should Tall Men Marry?as Martha Skittle | |
| 1928 | Pass the Gravyas Daughter | |
| 1927 | Flaming Fathersas Daughter | |
| 1927 | Fighting Fathersas Max's Daughter | |
| 1927 | Love 'em and Feed 'emas Martha, a stenographer | |
| 1927 | Fluttering Heartsas Daughter | |
| 1927 | Jewish Prudenceas Rachel Gimplewart | |
| 1927 | The Honorable Mr. Buggsas The Fiancée | |
| 1926 | Bromo and Julietas Bit Role (uncredited) | |
| 1926 | Crazy Like a Foxas The bride | |
| 1926 | Along Came Auntieas Marie, the Maid | |
| 1926 | Thundering Fleasas Bride | |
| 1926 | Long Fliv the Kingas Princess Helga of Thermosa | |
| 1926 | Don Key (Son of Burro)as | |
| 1926 | Say It with Babiesas Hector's Wife | |
| 1926 | Mum's the Wordas The Nervous Little Girl | |
| 1926 | Madame Mysteryas | |
| 1926 | What's the World Coming To?as The Butler | |
| 1926 | A Punch in the Noseas | |
| 1925 | Should Sailors Marry?as Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter | |
| 1925 | Better Moviesas Teenaged 'Vamp' | |
| 1925 | Innocent Husbandsas Girl at Party (uncredited) | |
| 1925 | Sherlock Sleuthas Hotel Telephone Operator | |
| 1925 | Sure-Mike!as Vermuda | |
| 1925 | Big Red Riding Hoodas Book store clerk | |
| 1925 | Bad Boyas Jimmie's Girl Friend | |
| 1925 | Plain and Fancy Girlsas Fiance | |
| 1925 | The Rat's Knucklesas Flirty McFickle | |
| 1925 | There Goes the Brideas Imogene-the Bride | |
| 1925 | Laughing Ladiesas | |
| 1924 | The Royal Razzas | |
| 1924 | Too Many Mammasas The Apache Dancer | |
| 1924 | Outdoor Pajamasas Girl with Runaway Pony | |
| 1924 | Sweet Daddyas Daughter | |
| 1924 | Seeing Nellie Homeas | |
| 1924 | A Ten-Minute Eggas Mrs. Dugan | |
| 1924 | The Racing Kidas | |
| 1924 | All Wetas Boarding house maid (uncredited) | |
| 1923 | The Mailmanas Betty |
| 1964 | Sex and the College Girl...Costume Supervisor |