21 Facts About Martha Sleeper

Martha Sleeper studied dancing for five years with Russian ballet master, Louis H Chalif, at his New York dancing studio.

Martha Sleeper's father, William B Sleeper, was an official of the Keith-Albee-Orpheum vaudeville circuit in New York City.

Martha Sleeper's uncle was John J Murdock, head of KAO and one of the most powerful men in the business.

Martha Sleeper's father retired to Los Angeles, California, in 1923 due to ill health.

Martha Sleeper was under contract to Hal Roach studios beginning in 1924, when she was 14 years old.

Martha Sleeper's father was found dead of heart disease on September 1,1925, in bed at his home.

In 1927, Martha Sleeper was one of 13 actresses selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star, whom exhibitors thought had a promising future in feature films.

Frustrated by the types of roles she was being offered, Martha Sleeper began playing in local stage productions, at one point drawing raves as Eliza Doolittle in a performance of Pygmalion in 1932.

Martha Sleeper was encouraged to begin an acting career by Cecil B De Mille.

At the age of 13 Martha Sleeper was consumed with the desire to become a film actress.

Martha Sleeper's parents were acquainted with Cecil B De Mille and sent her to him in hopes that he would dissuade her from her childish ambition.

In 1945, as a favor to her Hal Roach director Leo McCarey, Martha Sleeper played the role of Patsy's mother in The Bells of St Mary's.

In 1945, after appearing in The Bells of St, Mary's, Martha Sleeper returned to New York and played Spencer Tracy's wife in the Broadway play The Rugged Path.

Martha Sleeper had designed and manufactured whimsical pieces of costume jewelry for herself, but soon other women saw these pieces and wanted to know where they could obtain a copy.

Martha Sleeper found a company that would manufacture her designs, and they soon became available in department stores around the country, generating Martha Sleeper a substantial sideline income in addition to her stage work.

Martha Sleeper's destination was the Virgin Islands and a vacation with her husband; however, when she reached Puerto Rico, she fell in love with the island.

Martha Sleeper had her designs manufactured locally and sold them through a boutique that she established in a 300-year-old building in Old Town San Juan.

Martha Sleeper won many awards and commissions from large corporations for unique designs.

Martha Sleeper operated this business from 1950 until her retirement in 1969.

Martha Sleeper died of a heart attack, aged 72, in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she had lived with her third husband, Col.

Many sources had cited 1907 as Martha Sleeper's year of birth, but she was actually born shortly after the 1910 census was taken in April 1910.