Martha Sleeper
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- Jun 24, 1910
- Died
- Mar 25, 1983 (aged 72)
- Place of birth
- Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA
- Credits
- 70
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
The Bells of St. Mary's
1945Movie
Mary Gallagher
Bombshell
1933Movie
Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)
Madam Satan
1930Movie
Fish Girl
Midnight Mary
1933Movie
Barbara
Penthouse
1933Movie
Sue Leonard
Our Blushing Brides
1930Movie
Evelyn Woodforth
Filmography
Days of Thrills and Laughter
1961Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Bells of St. Mary's
1945Movie
Mary Gallagher
Four Days Wonder
1936Movie
Nancy Fairbrother
Rhythm on the Range
1936Movie
Constance Hyde
Two Sinners
1935Movie
Elsie Summerstone
The Scoundrel
1935Movie
Julia Vivian
Great God Gold
1935Movie
Marcia Harper
West of the Pecos
1934Movie
Ril Lambeth
Tomorrow's Youth
1934Movie
Ellen Hall
Hollywood Party
1934Movie
Show Girl (uncredited)
Spitfire
1934Movie
Eleanor Stafford
Broken Dreams
1933Movie
Martha Morley
Bombshell
1933Movie
Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)
Penthouse
1933Movie
Sue Leonard
Midnight Mary
1933Movie
Barbara
The Secret of Madame Blanche
1933Movie
Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited)
Rasputin and the Empress
1932Movie
Party Girl (uncredited)
Huddle
1932Movie
Barbara
Confessions of a Co-Ed
1931Movie
Lucille
A Tailor-Made Man
1931Movie
Corrine
Girls Demand Excitement
1931Movie
Harriet Mundy
Ten Cents a Dance
1931Movie
Nancy Clark
War Nurse
1930Movie
Helen
Madam Satan
1930Movie
Fish Girl
Our Blushing Brides
1930Movie
Evelyn Woodforth
The Voice of the Storm
1929Movie
Ruth
The Air Legion
1929Movie
Sally
Taxi 13
1928Movie
Flora Mactavish
Danger Street
1928Movie
Kitty
Skinner's Big Idea
1928Movie
Dorothy
The Little Yellow House
1928Movie
Emmy Milburn
Should Tall Men Marry?
1928Movie
Martha Skittle
Pass the Gravy
1928Movie
Daughter
Flaming Fathers
1927Movie
Daughter
Fighting Fathers
1927Movie
Max's Daughter
Love 'em and Feed 'em
1927Movie
Martha, a stenographer
Fluttering Hearts
1927Movie
Daughter
Jewish Prudence
1927Movie
Rachel Gimplewart
The Honorable Mr. Buggs
1927Movie
The Fiancée
Bromo and Juliet
1926Movie
Bit Role (uncredited)
Crazy Like a Fox
1926Movie
The bride
Along Came Auntie
1926Movie
Marie, the Maid
Thundering Fleas
1926Movie
Bride
Long Fliv the King
1926Movie
Princess Helga of Thermosa
Don Key (Son of Burro)
1926Movie
Say It with Babies
1926Movie
Hector's Wife
Mum's the Word
1926Movie
The Nervous Little Girl
Madame Mystery
1926Movie
What's the World Coming To?
1926Movie
The Butler
A Punch in the Nose
1926Movie
Should Sailors Marry?
1925Movie
Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter
Better Movies
1925Movie
Teenaged 'Vamp'
Innocent Husbands
1925Movie
Girl at Party (uncredited)
Sherlock Sleuth
1925Movie
Hotel Telephone Operator
Sure-Mike!
1925Movie
Vermuda
Big Red Riding Hood
1925Movie
Book store clerk
Bad Boy
1925Movie
Jimmie's Girl Friend
Plain and Fancy Girls
1925Movie
Fiance
The Rat's Knuckles
1925Movie
Flirty McFickle
There Goes the Bride
1925Movie
Imogene-the Bride
Laughing Ladies
1925Movie
The Royal Razz
1924Movie
Too Many Mammas
1924Movie
The Apache Dancer
Outdoor Pajamas
1924Movie
Girl with Runaway Pony
Sweet Daddy
1924Movie
Daughter
Seeing Nellie Home
1924Movie
A Ten-Minute Egg
1924Movie
Mrs. Dugan
The Racing Kid
1924Movie
Martha
All Wet
1924Movie
Boarding house maid (uncredited)
The Mailman
1923Movie
Betty