Acting
62
Woman
24 Jun 1910
25 Mar 1983 (72)
Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA
—
Martha Sleeper
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.
Year | Movie / TV show / Other | Role |
---|---|---|
1961 | Days of Thrills and Laughter | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
1945 | The Bells of St. Mary's | Mary Gallagher |
1936 | Rhythm on the Range | Constance Hyde |
1936 | Four Days Wonder | Nancy Fairbrother |
1935 | The Scoundrel | Julia Vivian |
1935 | Great God Gold | Marcia Harper |
1935 | Two Sinners | Elsie Summerstone |
1934 | Spitfire | Eleanor Stafford |
1934 | Hollywood Party | Show Girl (uncredited) |
1934 | Tomorrow's Youth | Ellen Hall |
1934 | West of the Pecos | Ril Lambeth |
1933 | Bombshell | Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited) |
1933 | Midnight Mary | Barbara Mannering |
1933 | Penthouse | Sue Leonard |
1933 | The Secret of Madame Blanche | Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited) |
1933 | Broken Dreams | Martha Morley |
1932 | Rasputin and the Empress | Party Girl (uncredited) |
1932 | Huddle | Barbara |
1931 | Ten Cents a Dance | Nancy Clark |
1931 | Confessions of a Co-Ed | Lucille |
1931 | Girls Demand Excitement | Harriet Mundy |
1931 | A Tailor-Made Man | Corrine |
1930 | Madam Satan | Fish Girl |
1930 | Our Blushing Brides | Evelyn Woodforth |
1930 | War Nurse | Helen |
1928 | Pass the Gravy | Daughter |
1928 | Should Tall Men Marry? | Martha Skittle |
1928 | Taxi 13 | Flora Mactavish |
1928 | Danger Street | Kitty |
1927 | Fluttering Hearts | Daughter |
1927 | Jewish Prudence | Rachel Gimplewart |
1927 | Flaming Fathers | Daughter |
1927 | The Honorable Mr. Buggs | The Fiancée |
1927 | Love 'em and Feed 'em | Martha, a stenographer |
1926 | Along Came Auntie | Marie, the Maid |
1926 | Crazy Like a Fox | The bride |
1926 | Thundering Fleas | Bride |
1926 | Bromo and Juliet | Bit Role (uncredited) |
1926 | What's the World Coming To? | The Butler |
1926 | Mum's the Word | The Nervous Little Girl (uncredited) |
1926 | Long Fliv the King | Princess Helga of Thermosa |
1926 | Madame Mystery | |
1926 | Say It with Babies | Hector's Wife |
1926 | A Punch in the Nose | |
1925 | Should Sailors Marry? | Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter |
1925 | Innocent Husbands | Girl at Party (uncredited) |
1925 | Bad Boy | Jimmie's Girl Friend |
1925 | Better Movies | Teenaged 'Vamp' |
1925 | The Rat's Knuckles | Flirty McFickle |
1925 | Big Red Riding Hood | Book store clerk |
1925 | Sherlock Sleuth | Hotel Telephone Operator |
1925 | Sure-Mike! | Vermuda |
1925 | There Goes the Bride | Imogene-the Bride |
1925 | Plain and Fancy Girls | Fiance |
1925 | Laughing Ladies | |
1924 | Too Many Mammas | The Apache Dancer |
1924 | A Ten-Minute Egg | Mrs. Dugan |
1924 | Seeing Nellie Home | |
1924 | Outdoor Pajamas | Girl with Runaway Pony |
1924 | Sweet Daddy | Daughter |
1924 | The Royal Razz |
Year | Movie / TV show / Other | Role |
---|---|---|
1964 | Sex and the College Girl | Costume Supervisor |