HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS MARTHA HYER BORN ON 1924 AUGUST 10

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS MARTHA HYER 

BORN ON 1924 AUGUST 10

Overview (4)

Date of Birth	10 August 1924, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Date of Death	31 May 2014, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
Nickname	Martha Lou Spring
Height	5' 5" (1.65 m)

Mini Bio (1)

Martha Hyer was born on August 10, 1924 in Fort Worth, Texas. Once she finished her formal schooling, Martha played a bit role in 1946's The Locket (1946). Slowly, Martha began picking up roles with more and more substance. The best years for the beautiful actress began in 1954 when she played in films such as Down Three Dark Streets(1954), Showdown at Abilene (1956) and Battle Hymn (1957). Perhaps the best role of her long career was as "Gwen French" in 1958's Some Came Running (1958) in which she starred opposite Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Shirley MacLaine. 

As a result of her stellar role, Martha received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress, but she lost out to Wendy Hiller in Separate Tables (1958). Afterwards, Martha's stint on the US silver screen's trailed off some. She did make a handful of foreign films, returning to appear in the US from time to time, but nothing compared to the pace she had in the fifties. Her last film was in 1973 in the film The Day of the Wolves (1971). In 1966, she married producer Hal B. Wallis and remained with him until his death in 1986.

Spouse (2)

Hal B. Wallis	(31 December 1966 - 5 October 1986) (his death)
C. Ray Stahl	(31 March 1951 - 4 February 1954) (divorced)

Trivia (10)

This placid blonde was once in the running for the role of Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960), but lost out to Janet Leigh.

Was once labeled "Universal's answer to Grace Kelly".

Her classmates at Northwestern University included Cloris Leachman, Paul Lynde,Charlotte Rae, Charlton Heston, Patricia Neal and Agnes Nixon.

In Italy, most of her films were dubbed by Rosetta Calavetta. At the beginning of her career she was occasionally dubbed by Miranda Bonansea and Giuliana Maroni. Towards the late fifties, Renata Marini and Anna Miserocchi also lent their voice to Hyer.

Was discovered by an RKO talent agent while acting with the Pasadena Playhouse.

Majored in drama and speech at Northwestern University.

She was a staunch Democrat.

Was a member of Pi Beta Phi Sorority.

She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.

The May 4, 1959, issue of "Life" magazine contained a ten-page pictorial of her luxurious home in Holllywood. Not long after the issue came out, her home was robbed while she was attending a party.

Personal Quotes (2)

When you live with fame as a day-to-day reality, the allure of privacy and anonymity is as strong as the desire for fame for those who never had it.

I'm having too much fun looking for a husband to worry about catching one.