← Home
Martha Sleeper

Martha Sleeper

Acting

Born: June 24, 1910Lake 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.

Known For
Filmography
Days of Thrills and Laughter

Days of Thrills and Laughter

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1961
The Bells of St. Mary's

The Bells of St. Mary's

Mary Gallagher

1945

Four Days Wonder

Nancy Fairbrother

1936
Rhythm on the Range

Rhythm on the Range

Constance Hyde

1936
Two Sinners

Two Sinners

Elsie Summerstone

1935
The Scoundrel

The Scoundrel

Julia Vivian

1935
Great God Gold

Great God Gold

Marcia Harper

1935
West of the Pecos

West of the Pecos

Ril Lambeth

1934
Tomorrow's Youth

Tomorrow's Youth

Ellen Hall

1934
Hollywood Party

Hollywood Party

Show Girl (uncredited)

1934
Spitfire

Spitfire

Eleanor Stafford

1934
Broken Dreams

Broken Dreams

Martha Morley

1933
Bombshell

Bombshell

Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)

1933
Penthouse

Penthouse

Sue Leonard

1933
Midnight Mary

Midnight Mary

Barbara

1933
The Secret of Madame Blanche

The Secret of Madame Blanche

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

1933
Rasputin and the Empress

Rasputin and the Empress

Party Girl (uncredited)

1932
Huddle

Huddle

Barbara

1932
Confessions of a Co-Ed

Confessions of a Co-Ed

Lucille

1931
A Tailor-Made Man

A Tailor-Made Man

Corrine

1931
Girls Demand Excitement

Girls Demand Excitement

Harriet Mundy

1931
Ten Cents a Dance

Ten Cents a Dance

Nancy Clark

1931
War Nurse

War Nurse

Helen

1930
Madam Satan

Madam Satan

Fish Girl

1930
Our Blushing Brides

Our Blushing Brides

Evelyn Woodforth

1930
The Air Legion

The Air Legion

Sally

1929

Taxi 13

Flora Mactavish

1928
Danger Street

Danger Street

Kitty

1928
Skinner's Big Idea

Skinner's Big Idea

Dorothy

1928
The Little Yellow House

The Little Yellow House

Emmy Milburn

1928
Should Tall Men Marry?

Should Tall Men Marry?

Martha Skittle

1928
Pass the Gravy

Pass the Gravy

Daughter

1928
Flaming Fathers

Flaming Fathers

Daughter

1927

Fighting Fathers

Max's Daughter

1927

Love 'em and Feed 'em

Martha, a stenographer

1927
Fluttering Hearts

Fluttering Hearts

Daughter

1927
Jewish Prudence

Jewish Prudence

Rachel Gimplewart

1927
The Honorable Mr. Buggs

The Honorable Mr. Buggs

The Fiancée

1927
Bromo and Juliet

Bromo and Juliet

Bit Role (uncredited)

1926
Crazy Like a Fox

Crazy Like a Fox

The bride

1926
Along Came Auntie

Along Came Auntie

Marie, the Maid

1926
Thundering Fleas

Thundering Fleas

Bride

1926
Long Fliv the King

Long Fliv the King

Princess Helga of Thermosa

1926
Don Key (Son of Burro)

Don Key (Son of Burro)

1926
Say It with Babies

Say It with Babies

Hector's Wife

1926
Mum's the Word

Mum's the Word

The Nervous Little Girl

1926
Madame Mystery

Madame Mystery

1926
What's the World Coming To?

What's the World Coming To?

The Butler

1926
A Punch in the Nose

A Punch in the Nose

1926
Should Sailors Marry?

Should Sailors Marry?

Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter

1925
Better Movies

Better Movies

Teenaged 'Vamp'

1925
Innocent Husbands

Innocent Husbands

Girl at Party (uncredited)

1925

Sherlock Sleuth

Hotel Telephone Operator

1925
Sure-Mike!

Sure-Mike!

Vermuda

1925
Big Red Riding Hood

Big Red Riding Hood

Book store clerk

1925
Bad Boy

Bad Boy

Jimmie's Girl Friend

1925
Plain and Fancy Girls

Plain and Fancy Girls

Fiance

1925
The Rat's Knuckles

The Rat's Knuckles

Flirty McFickle

1925
Laughing Ladies

Laughing Ladies

1925
There Goes the Bride

There Goes the Bride

Imogene-the Bride

1925
The Royal Razz

The Royal Razz

1924
Too Many Mammas

Too Many Mammas

The Apache Dancer

1924
Outdoor Pajamas

Outdoor Pajamas

Girl with Runaway Pony

1924
Sweet Daddy

Sweet Daddy

Daughter

1924
Seeing Nellie Home

Seeing Nellie Home

1924
A Ten-Minute Egg

A Ten-Minute Egg

Mrs. Dugan

1924

The Racing Kid

1924
All Wet

All Wet

Boarding house maid (uncredited)

1924
The Mailman

The Mailman

Betty

1923