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Martha Sleeper

Martha Sleeper

  • Teen actor

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.

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Days of Thrills and Laughter

Days of Thrills and Laughter

1961

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

The Bells of St. Mary's

The Bells of St. Mary's

1945

as Mary Gallagher

Four Days Wonder

Four Days Wonder

1936

as Nancy Fairbrother

Rhythm on the Range

Rhythm on the Range

1936

as Constance Hyde

Two Sinners

Two Sinners

1935

as Elsie Summerstone

The Scoundrel

The Scoundrel

1935

as Julia Vivian

Great God Gold

Great God Gold

1935

as Marcia Harper

West of the Pecos

West of the Pecos

1934

as Ril Lambeth

Tomorrow's Youth

Tomorrow's Youth

1934

as Ellen Hall

Hollywood Party

Hollywood Party

1934

as Show Girl (uncredited)

Spitfire

Spitfire

1934

as Eleanor Stafford

Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams

1933

as Martha Morley

Bombshell

Bombshell

1933

as Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)

Penthouse

Penthouse

1933

as Sue Leonard

Midnight Mary

Midnight Mary

1933

as Barbara

The Secret of Madame Blanche

The Secret of Madame Blanche

1933

as Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited)

Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress

1932

as Party Girl (uncredited)

Huddle

Huddle

1932

as Barbara

Confessions of a Co-Ed

Confessions of a Co-Ed

1931

as Lucille

A Tailor-Made Man

A Tailor-Made Man

1931

as Corrine

Girls Demand Excitement

Girls Demand Excitement

1931

as Harriet Mundy

Ten Cents a Dance

Ten Cents a Dance

1931

as Nancy Clark

War Nurse

War Nurse

1930

as Helen

Madam Satan

Madam Satan

1930

as Fish Girl

Our Blushing Brides

Our Blushing Brides

1930

as Evelyn Woodforth

Taxi 13

Taxi 13

1928

as Flora Mactavish

Danger Street

Danger Street

1928

as Kitty

The Little Yellow House

The Little Yellow House

1928

as Emmy Milburn

Should Tall Men Marry?

Should Tall Men Marry?

1928

as Martha Skittle

Pass the Gravy

Pass the Gravy

1928

as Daughter

Flaming Fathers

Flaming Fathers

1927

as Daughter

Love 'em and Feed 'em

Love 'em and Feed 'em

1927

as Martha, a stenographer

Fluttering Hearts

Fluttering Hearts

1927

as Daughter

Jewish Prudence

Jewish Prudence

1927

as Rachel Gimplewart

The Honorable Mr. Buggs

The Honorable Mr. Buggs

1927

as The Fiancée

Bromo and Juliet

Bromo and Juliet

1926

as Bit Role (uncredited)

Crazy Like a Fox

Crazy Like a Fox

1926

as The bride

Along Came Auntie

Along Came Auntie

1926

as Marie, the Maid

Thundering Fleas

Thundering Fleas

1926

as Bride

Long Fliv the King

Long Fliv the King

1926

as Princess Helga of Thermosa

Say It with Babies

Say It with Babies

1926

as Hector's Wife

Mum's the Word

Mum's the Word

1926

as The Nervous Little Girl

Madame Mystery

Madame Mystery

1926

What's the World Coming To?

What's the World Coming To?

1926

as The Butler

A Punch in the Nose

A Punch in the Nose

1926

Should Sailors Marry?

Should Sailors Marry?

1925

as Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter

Better Movies

Better Movies

1925

as Teenaged 'Vamp'

Innocent Husbands

Innocent Husbands

1925

as Girl at Party (uncredited)

Sherlock Sleuth

Sherlock Sleuth

1925

as Hotel Telephone Operator

Sure-Mike!

Sure-Mike!

1925

as Vermuda

Big Red Riding Hood

Big Red Riding Hood

1925

as Book store clerk

Bad Boy

Bad Boy

1925

as Jimmie's Girl Friend

Plain and Fancy Girls

Plain and Fancy Girls

1925

as Fiance

The Rat's Knuckles

The Rat's Knuckles

1925

as Flirty McFickle

There Goes the Bride

There Goes the Bride

1925

as Imogene-the Bride

Laughing Ladies

Laughing Ladies

1925

The Royal Razz

The Royal Razz

1924

Too Many Mammas

Too Many Mammas

1924

as The Apache Dancer

Outdoor Pajamas

Outdoor Pajamas

1924

as Girl with Runaway Pony

Sweet Daddy

Sweet Daddy

1924

as Daughter

Seeing Nellie Home

Seeing Nellie Home

1924

A Ten-Minute Egg

A Ten-Minute Egg

1924

as Mrs. Dugan

All Wet

All Wet

1924

as Boarding house maid (uncredited)

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