Eva Marie Saint, Oscar-winning Hollywood star, dies at 102
Oscar-winning actress dies at 102
Eva Marie Saint, the acclaimed actress known for classic Hollywood films including On the Waterfront and North by Northwest, has died at 102. Her publicist confirmed that she died on Tuesday of natural causes at her Los Angeles home, surrounded by family and loved ones.
A seven-decade career
Saint enjoyed a remarkable career spanning more than seven decades in film and television. Her work earned her an Oscar and an Emmy, while her performances brought her recognition from major filmmakers including Alfred Hitchcock and Elia Kazan.
Oscar-winning film debut
Saint made her film debut in Kazan’s 1954 crime drama On the Waterfront, starring alongside Marlon Brando. Her performance as Edie earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and helped establish her as a major Hollywood star.
Starring with Cary Grant
She later appeared opposite Cary Grant in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, playing a mysterious double agent who becomes involved with Grant’s character. Saint was initially considered an unexpected choice for the role but delivered a memorable performance.
Working with Hollywood greats
Her career also included roles opposite Paul Newman in Exodus and Warren Beatty in All Fall Down. Despite having opportunities for greater superstardom, Saint chose to step back from Hollywood to raise her family with her husband, director Jeffrey Hayden.
A lasting legacy
Saint later returned to the big screen, appearing as Superman’s adoptive mother in Superman Returns in 2006. She continued acting into her 90s, with later roles including Winter’s Tale and Mariette in Ecstasy.
Success on television
Although she became famous through film, television remained important to Saint. She won an Emmy in 1990 for her role as a wealthy widow in the acclaimed miniseries People Like Us.
65-year marriage
Born on July 4, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey, Saint studied dramatic arts before training at New York’s Herbert Berghof Studio and Actors Studio. She married Hayden in 1951, and they remained together for 65 years until his death in 2016.
Remembered for her craft
Saint credited her long life and experiences with deepening her understanding of people and strengthening her acting. With two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she leaves behind a celebrated legacy in film and television.
