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