Martha Sleeper
Biography
Martha Sleeper was a film and stage actress whose work ran from 1923 to 1945. She trained in dance with Louis H. Chalif in New York and first appeared on screen at twelve in The Mailman (1923). After Christie kiddie comedies, the Hal Roach studio signed her for the Our Gang shorts, though she outgrew the part. Between 1925 and 1927 she played opposite male stars and earned notice as an inventive comedienne in shorts such as The Rat's Knuckles and Pass the Gravy, many directed by Leo McCarey. Named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1927, she moved to FBO, starred in six silent features from 1928 to 1929, and later entered MGM's training program when sound arrived. From 1930 to 1936 she played supporting society women in melodramas. She acted on Broadway in Good Men and True (1934) and The Rugged Path, and her final screen role came in The Bells of St. Mary's (1945). Sleeper died in 1983.
72years old at death
- Born Lake Bluff
- Died Beaufort
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 15 years1930 to 1945
Every film, newest first
- 1945The Bells of St. Mary'sIMDb rating 7.2
- 1933Midnight MaryIMDb rating 7.0
- 1933PenthouseIMDb rating 6.8
- 1930Madam SatanIMDb rating 6.3
- 1930Our Blushing BridesIMDb rating 6.2
Genres
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First role
At the age of 12, Sleeper made her first screen appearance in The Mailman, an independent production released in 1923.
Early training
Sleeper trained in dance for five years under Louis H. Chalif, a Russian ballet master, at his studio in New York. Her first public exhibitions came at Carnegie Hall, in his class exhibitions.
A first
In 1927, Sleeper was among 13 actresses picked as a WAMPAS Baby Star. Exhibitors believed this group had a promising future in feature films.
Martha Sleeper movies on Netflix
Worked with
Martha Sleeper shares three films with Robert Emmett O'Connor, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Robert Emmett O'Connor's page
Albert Conti's page
Joan Crawford's page
Myrna Loy's page
Ernie Adams's page
Bing Crosby's page
All films by Leo McCarey
All films by William A. Wellman
All films by Cecil B. DeMille
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.