Oscar-winning actress Eva Marie Saint, who appeared in famous old films like "On the Waterfront" and "North by Northwest," passed away on Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles.She was 102 years old.
She was a very talented actress, one of the first big stars from early TV.
She won her Oscar for best supporting actress in "On the Waterfront" in 1955, which made her the oldest person still alive who had won an Oscar.She played Edie Doyle in that movie, which starred Marlon Brando.The New York Times said in its review, "Amid scenes of carnage, she gives tenderness and sensitivity to genuine romance."
As she raised her family from the late 1950s onward, she came back to acting sometimes.
Many of her later roles were on stage and TV, like the ABC series "Moonlighting" and later as Clark Kent's adoptive mother in the 2006 movie "Superman Returns."
One of her most remembered roles was as the cool and seductive blonde spy in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 spy movie "North by Northwest." Variety wrote about her 97th birthday, saying, "Not only does she provide the required icy sex appeal as Eve Kendall, a shadowy secret agent, but she also proves to be much more than a standard damsel in distress."
Variety continued, "Saint's character is fully capable of pulling the wool over the eyes of sinister villains and usually remains two or three steps ahead of Grant's hapless Madison Avenue executive Roger Thornhill."
Saint began her TV career on "Camp Hoop La" and then became a regular on "One Man's Family." She expanded her dramatic range in shows like "Philco Playhouse," "Robert Montgomery Presents," and "Studio One." Some highlights from that time were Paddy Chayevsky's "Middle of the Night" (1954) and a musical version of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" (1955), which starred Paul Newman and Frank Sinatra (both of which earned her Emmy nominations); Sidney Howard's "Yellow Jack"; and the drama "Claudia."
She acted alongside Lillian Gish in the 1953 Horton Foote TV play "The Trip to Bountiful," which was the first TV drama to move to Broadway (for 39 performances).
Her "touching and beautifully sensitive performance," as a critic described it, earned the approval of Elia Kazan, who cast her opposite Marlon Brando in "On the Waterfront" in a role many experienced actresses wanted.
The 1954 Budd Schulberg drama was nominated for 12 Oscars and won eight, including best picture, actor, director, and for Saint, supporting actress.
Instead of signing a long studio contract, she returned to the theater in stock productions of "The Rainmaker" and "Desire Under the Elms."
In 1956, she took on the glamorous female lead in "That Certain Feeling" opposite Bob Hope, followed by the 1957 film version of "A Hatful of Rain" and "Raintree County."
After "North by Northwest," she was in "Exodus" and "All Fall Down." The latter, directed by John Frankenheimer and co-starring Warren Beatty, was one of her best dramatic performances.
She played the mysterious but scorned wife in 1965's Elizabeth Taylor-Richard Burton affair film "The Sandpiper," and then acted in a better movie, Norman Jewison's comedy "The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming," in 1966.
Her role in "Loving," co-starring with George Segal, was highly praised and considered some of her best work.Other roles included "36 Hours" and "Grand Prix." Except for another Hope comedy, "Cancel My Reservation," she spent most of the next two decades doing TV and stage work.
On Broadway, she acted in "The Lincoln Mask" in 1972 and then, opposite Henry Fonda, in "The First Monday in October" in 1979.
In 1983, she appeared in a Chicago production of "Duet for One." Her TV credits included "School for Bachelors," "A Carol for Another Christmas," "The First Woman President," "Mrs.Epenshade," "Taxi," and the miniseries "How the West Was Won." The latter two roles also brought her Emmy nominations.
Saint received good reviews for movies like "A Christmas to Remember" with Jason Robards, "When Hell Was in Session," "The Curse of King Tut's Tomb," "The Best Little Girl in the World," "Malibu," "My Antonia," and "Jane Doe," among other roles.
She had a recurring role on the ABC series "Moonlighting," starring Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis, as Shepherd's mother.
One of the standout performances of the year was by the versatile and talented actress, who delivered a powerful portrayal that resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Her ability to fully embody her character and bring depth to the narrative made her performance a highlight of the film.The role was not only well-received but also marked a significant achievement in her career, showcasing her range and dedication to her craft.Her performance was widely praised for its emotional intensity and authenticity, further solidifying her reputation as a skilled and reliable performer in the industry.
Saint was born in Newark, New Jersey.Her family later moved to Delmar, New York, which is near Albany.She wanted to become a teacher, so she went to Bowling Green State University in Ohio.While there, she got interested in acting.After getting her bachelor's degree, she decided to focus on acting full time.She started with radio work and got her first paycheck, which was $10, as an off-camera applauder on "The Borden Show." To support herself, she did some modeling and then got roles in radio serials like "Rosemary" and "Young Doctor Malone."
In 1947, she was cast in "Mister Roberts" but was later reduced to an understudy because the director, Joshua Logan, didn't think she had enough experience.
Jocelyn Brando played the main role.A year later, she began studying at the Actors Studio.
Saint is known for her ability to work in both film and television.
She has two separate stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—one for movies and one for TV.In 2000, she hosted a Turner Classic Movies documentary about "North by Northwest" as a way to honor the film.She also appeared in two documentaries: "Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There" in 2003 and "Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age" in 2011.
At the 81st Academy Awards in 2009, she presented the Oscar for supporting actress, more than 55 years after she won for "The Waterfront."
She was a long-time supporter of the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the Epilepsy Foundation of Los Angeles.
She was also an early advocate for making cars free of cell phones and created her own bumper sticker that said, "Get Off The Phone Or Get Off The Road." She also served on the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.
Her husband, TV director Jeffrey Hayden, passed away in 2016.
She is survived by her two children, Darrell and Laurette, four grandchildren—Eli, Tyler, Molly, and Stella—and two great-grandchildren, Arlo and Finley.
