Eva Marie Saint, a renowned actress of Hollywood’s Golden Era, has passed away at the age of 102. Saint died of natural causes on Tuesday at her home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family and loved ones, as reported by her representative to Fox News Digital.
Saint made a remarkable entrance into the film industry with her debut opposite Marlon Brando in the 1954 classic “On the Waterfront.” Her role as Edie Doyle earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
American actress Eva Marie Saint paints from a sketchbook in a garden in the United States, circa 1955. (Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Five years after her initial success, she solidified her standing in cinematic history by co-starring with the legendary Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest.” In this 1959 thriller, she captivated audiences as the enigmatic “Hitchcock Blonde,” Eve Kendall.
Throughout her career, which spanned over seven decades, Saint worked with some of Hollywood’s most celebrated leading men. These included Montgomery Clift, Henry Fonda, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, Richard Burton, Warren Beatty, James Garner, George C. Scott, Burt Lancaster, and Tom Hanks.
Notable films featuring Saint include “A Hatful of Rain,” “Raintree County,” “Exodus,” “The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming,” “Grand Prix,” “Nothing in Common,” and later “Superman Returns.”
Cary Grant holds Eva Marie Saint in a scene from the film “North by Northwest,” 1959. Grant wears a pale gray Oxford shirt by Brooks Brothers. (FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
The actress also made significant contributions to television and the stage. She received five Emmy nominations and won in 1990 for the miniseries “People Like Us.” Additionally, she appeared on Broadway in “The Trip to Bountiful” before being cast in “On the Waterfront” by director Elia Kazan.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, and raised in Albany and Delmar, New York, Saint initially pursued a career in teaching at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. However, her passion for acting eventually altered her life path.
Saint was married to director Jeffrey Hayden for 65 years until his death in 2016. She is survived by their two children, Darrell and Laurette, as well as four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Eva Marie Saint’s passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Hollywood’s Golden Era. Her legacy includes performances alongside some of the 20th century’s biggest stars and filmmakers.
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