Eva Marie Saint, acclaimed for her performances in classic films such as ‘On the Waterfront’ and ‘North by Northwest,’ died on Tuesday at age 102.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born July 4, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey, Saint spent her childhood in Albany and Delmar, New York. She studied acting at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, graduating in 1946, then continued her training in New York City with The American Theatre Wing and Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio. Before making her film debut, she worked in television and as an NBC page.
Breakthrough Role in 'On the Waterfront'
Saint’s first motion picture role came in 1954 with Elia Kazan’s ‘On the Waterfront,’ opposite Marlon Brando. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1955 for her portrayal of Edie Doyle, a Catholic schoolgirl caught amidst union corruption. Accounts from the time describe an on-set chemistry between Saint and Brando that impressed director Kazan.
Hitchcock Collaboration and Later Work
Five years later, she starred opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest,’ playing a character that defied typical “femme fatale” tropes. Throughout her career, Saint appeared in numerous films including ‘A Hatful of Rain’ (1957), ‘Exodus’ (1960), and ‘The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming’ (1966). She also had a recurring role on the television series 'Moonlighting' in the 1980s.
Personal Life and Legacy
Saint married director Jeffrey Hayden in 1951. She reportedly prioritized raising her children, sometimes declining roles despite warnings from her agent that it could hinder her career as a “superstar.” Saint died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles on Tuesday, surrounded by family. She was the oldest living Oscar winner.
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