Martha Sleeper
Acting • Born 1910-06-24 – Died 1983-03-25
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.
Filmography
69 credits
The Bells of St. Mary's
Movie • 1945
Mary Gallagher
Penthouse
Movie • 1933
Sue Leonard
The Scoundrel
Movie • 1935
Julia Vivian
Sherlock Sleuth
Movie • 1925
Hotel Telephone Operator
Sweet Daddy
Movie • 1924
Daughter
The Honorable Mr. Buggs
Movie • 1927
The Fiancée
Spitfire
Movie • 1934
Eleanor Stafford
Along Came Auntie
Movie • 1926
Marie, the Maid
A Punch in the Nose
Movie • 1926
The Royal Razz
Movie • 1924
Jewish Prudence
Movie • 1927
Rachel Gimplewart
Better Movies
Movie • 1925
Teenaged 'Vamp'
Fluttering Hearts
Movie • 1927
Daughter
Midnight Mary
Movie • 1933
Barbara
Pass the Gravy
Movie • 1928
Daughter
Tomorrow's Youth
Movie • 1934
Ellen Hall
Long Fliv the King
Movie • 1926
Princess Helga of Thermosa
Crazy Like a Fox
Movie • 1926
The bride
Say It with Babies
Movie • 1926
Hector's Wife
Broken Dreams
Movie • 1933
Martha Morley
Great God Gold
Movie • 1935
Marcia Harper
Too Many Mammas
Movie • 1924
The Apache Dancer
Should Tall Men Marry?
Movie • 1928
Martha Skittle
Huddle
Movie • 1932
Barbara
Confessions of a Co-Ed
Movie • 1931
Lucille
Innocent Husbands
Movie • 1925
Girl at Party (uncredited)
War Nurse
Movie • 1930
Helen
Sure-Mike!
Movie • 1925
Vermuda
West of the Pecos
Movie • 1934
Ril Lambeth
There Goes the Bride
Movie • 1925
Imogene-the Bride
Thundering Fleas
Movie • 1926
Bride
Ten Cents a Dance
Movie • 1931
Nancy Clark
Days of Thrills and Laughter
Movie • 1961
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bombshell
Movie • 1933
Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)
Taxi 13
Movie • 1928
Flora Mactavish
What's the World Coming To?
Movie • 1926
The Butler
Four Days Wonder
Movie • 1936
Nancy Fairbrother
Seeing Nellie Home
Movie • 1924
A Ten-Minute Egg
Movie • 1924
Mrs. Dugan
Flaming Fathers
Movie • 1927
Daughter
The Rat's Knuckles
Movie • 1925
Flirty McFickle
Outdoor Pajamas
Movie • 1924
Girl with Runaway Pony
Love 'em and Feed 'em
Movie • 1927
Martha, a stenographer
Hollywood Party
Movie • 1934
Show Girl (uncredited)
Girls Demand Excitement
Movie • 1931
Harriet Mundy
Madame Mystery
Movie • 1926
Bad Boy
Movie • 1925
Jimmie's Girl Friend
Rhythm on the Range
Movie • 1936
Constance Hyde
Madam Satan
Movie • 1930
Fish Girl
Bromo and Juliet
Movie • 1926
Bit Role (uncredited)
Big Red Riding Hood
Movie • 1925
Book store clerk
Mum's the Word
Movie • 1926
The Nervous Little Girl
A Tailor-Made Man
Movie • 1931
Corrine
Rasputin and the Empress
Movie • 1932
Party Girl (uncredited)
Danger Street
Movie • 1928
Kitty
Our Blushing Brides
Movie • 1930
Evelyn Woodforth
The Secret of Madame Blanche
Movie • 1933
Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited)
Should Sailors Marry?
Movie • 1925
Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter
Two Sinners
Movie • 1935
Elsie Summerstone
Plain and Fancy Girls
Movie • 1925
Fiance
Laughing Ladies
Movie • 1925
All Wet
Movie • 1924
Boarding house maid (uncredited)
The Little Yellow House
Movie • 1928
Emmy Milburn
Fighting Fathers
Movie • 1927
Max's Daughter
Don Key (Son of Burro)
Movie • 1926
The Air Legion
Movie • 1929
Sally
The Mailman
Movie • 1923
Betty
The Racing Kid
Movie • 1924
Skinner's Big Idea
Movie • 1928
Dorothy