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