Eva Marie Saint, a slender actress known for her roles in the award-winning film “On the Waterfront” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest,” has passed away at the age of 102 in her Los Angeles home. Her family representative, Jeff Sanderson, confirmed her death on Tuesday.
Saint made a remarkable debut in Hollywood as the love interest of Marlon Brando’s character in “On the Waterfront,” where she won an Academy Award. Despite her instant stardom, Saint chose to prioritize her family life, turning down lucrative film offers to spend time with her children.
In the 1950s, Saint’s career was marked by selectivity, with only seven film appearances in her first decade in Hollywood. She credited her husband, Jeffrey Hayden, for encouraging her to star in “North by Northwest,” a decision that further solidified her acting legacy.
Throughout her career, Saint transitioned to television in the 1970s and enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s with notable roles in TV shows and films. She won an Emmy for her performance in the miniseries “People Like Us” and continued to act in movies well into the 21st century.
Married for 65 years to Hayden until his passing in 2016, Saint was born Eva Marie Saint on July 4, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey. Her journey into acting began at Bowling Green State University, leading her to a successful career in theatre, television, and film.
Saint’s legacy as a talented and independent actress will be remembered by audiences worldwide, spanning generations of fans who admired her work on screen.