MH
Marsha Hunt
Actor
Born October 17, 1917Died September 7, 2022 (104 years)
Marsha Hunt (born Marcia Virginia Hunt; October 17, 1917 – September 7, 2022) was an American actress, model and activist, with a career spanning nearly 80 years. She was blacklisted by Hollywood film studio executives in the 1950s during McCarthyism.
Although initially reluctant to pursue a film career, in June 1935, at age 17, Hunt signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures. Paramount discovered her when she was visiting her uncle in Los Angeles and the comedian Zeppo Marx saw a picture of her in the newspaper. She was then offered a screen test for The Virginia Judge. At Paramount, Hunt mainly played ingenue parts. Between 1935 and 1938, she made 12 pictures at Paramount, including a starring roles in Easy to Take, Gentle Julia, The Accusing Finger, Murder Goes to College, and two on "loan-out" to RKO and 20th Century Fox. In 1937, she starred opposite John Wayne, a couple of years prior to his breakthrough in Hollywood, in the Western film Born to the West.
The studio terminated Hunt's contract in 1938, and she spent a few years starring in B-films produced by poverty row studios such as Republic Pictures and Monogram Pictures. She also headed to New York City for work in summer stock theatre shortly before winning a supporting role in MGM's These Glamour Girls opposite Lana Turner and Lew Ayres. The role of Betty was said to have been written specially with Hunt in mind. Other roles in major studio productions soon followed, including supporting roles as Mary Bennet in MGM's version of Pride and Prejudice with Laurence Olivier and as Martha Scott's surrogate child Hope Thompson in Cheers for Miss Bishop.
In 1941, Hunt signed a contract with MGM, where she remained for the next six years. While filming Blossoms in the Dust, film director Mervyn LeRoy lauded Hunt for her heartfelt and genuine acting ability. In 1944, she polled seventh in a list by exhibitors of "Stars of Tomorrow". She also appeared in None Shall Escape, a film that is now regarded as the first about the Holocaust. She played Marja Pacierkowski, the Polish fiancé of a German Nazi officer named Wilhelm Grimm.
Although initially reluctant to pursue a film career, in June 1935, at age 17, Hunt signed a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures. Paramount discovered her when she was visiting her uncle in Los Angeles and the comedian Zeppo Marx saw a picture of her in the newspaper. She was then offered a screen test for The Virginia Judge. At Paramount, Hunt mainly played ingenue parts. Between 1935 and 1938, she made 12 pictures at Paramount, including a starring roles in Easy to Take, Gentle Julia, The Accusing Finger, Murder Goes to College, and two on "loan-out" to RKO and 20th Century Fox. In 1937, she starred opposite John Wayne, a couple of years prior to his breakthrough in Hollywood, in the Western film Born to the West.
The studio terminated Hunt's contract in 1938, and she spent a few years starring in B-films produced by poverty row studios such as Republic Pictures and Monogram Pictures. She also headed to New York City for work in summer stock theatre shortly before winning a supporting role in MGM's These Glamour Girls opposite Lana Turner and Lew Ayres. The role of Betty was said to have been written specially with Hunt in mind. Other roles in major studio productions soon followed, including supporting roles as Mary Bennet in MGM's version of Pride and Prejudice with Laurence Olivier and as Martha Scott's surrogate child Hope Thompson in Cheers for Miss Bishop.
In 1941, Hunt signed a contract with MGM, where she remained for the next six years. While filming Blossoms in the Dust, film director Mervyn LeRoy lauded Hunt for her heartfelt and genuine acting ability. In 1944, she polled seventh in a list by exhibitors of "Stars of Tomorrow". She also appeared in None Shall Escape, a film that is now regarded as the first about the Holocaust. She played Marja Pacierkowski, the Polish fiancé of a German Nazi officer named Wilhelm Grimm.
Filmography
| 2021 | |
| 2008 | Empire State Building Murders · as Norah Strinberg |
| 2008 | The Grand Inquisitor · as Hazel Reedy |
| 2006 | |
| 1988 | The Play on One (TV Series) · as Elvi Rogers |
| 1987 | Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) · as Anne Jameson |
| 1986 | Matlock (TV Series) · as Harriet |
| 1985 | Shadow Chasers (TV Series) · as Cora Walsh |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Elvira Tree |
| 1982 | The Mississippi (TV Series) · as Elizabeth |
| 1981 | Rich and Famous · as Malibu Party Guest |
| 1981 | Terror Among Us · as Marge |
| 1976 | Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch · as Heroine |
| 1975 | Medical Story (TV Series) · as Sylvia Brent |
| 1973 | Police Story (TV Series) |
| 1973 | Harry O (TV Series) |
| 1972 | Jigsaw · as Dr. Gehlen |
| 1972 | The Rookies (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1971 | Johnny Got His Gun · as Joe's Mother |
| 1969 | The Young Lawyers (TV Series) · as Celia Fulton |
| 1969 | Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) · as Mrs. Bellows |
| 1969 | Fear No Evil · as Mrs. Varney |
| 1968 | The Name of the Game (TV Series) · as Claudia Loring |
| 1968 | The Outsider (TV Series) |
| 1967 | Accidental Family (TV Series) |
| 1967 | Ironside (TV Series) · as Sissy Cardwell |
| 1965 | Run for Your Life (TV Series) · as Mrs. Southworth |
| 1964 | Profiles in Courage (TV Series) · as Mrs. Ely |
| 1963 | Channing (TV Series) · as Emily Tillett |
| 1963 | The Outer Limits (TV Series) · as Francesca Fields |
| 1963 | Breaking Point (TV Series) |
| 1962 | Sam Benedict (TV Series) · as Cora Wilcox |
| 1961 | Ben Casey (TV Series) |
| 1961 | Cain's Hundred (TV Series) · as Gloria Bonner |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Della Martin |
| 1961 | The Americans (TV Series) · as Jeanie Stone |
| 1960 | The Plunderers · as Kate Miller |
| 1960 | My Three Sons (TV Series) · as Aunt Cecile Blackman |
| 1959 | The Detectives (1959) (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The Twilight Zone (TV Series) · as Mrs. Henderson |
| 1959 | Laramie (TV Series) |
| 1959 | Blue Denim · as Jessie Bartley |
| 1957 | Bombers B-52 · as Edith Brennan |
| 1957 | Back from the Dead · as Kate Hazelton |
| 1957 | Panic (TV Series) |
| 1957 | O. Henry Playhouse (TV Series) · as Constantine Bellings |
| 1956 | Zane Grey Theater (TV Series) · as Dr. Sarah Martin |
| 1955 | Matinee Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1955 | The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) · as Mary |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) · as Blanche Herbert |
| 1955 | Gunsmoke (TV Series) · as Sarah |
| 1955 | A Word to the Wives... · as Alice |
| 1954 | Climax! (TV Series) · as Julie Brennan |
| 1954 | Diplomatic Passport · as Judy Anderson |
| 1952 | The Happy Time · as Susan Bonnard |
| 1952 | Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre (TV Series) · as Dr. Jane Gordon |
| 1952 | Actors and Sin · as Marcia Tillayou (segment Actor's Blood) |
| 1950 | Danger (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1950 | Your Show of Shows (TV Series) |
| 1949 | Mary Ryan, Detective · as Mary Ryan |
| 1949 | Take One False Step · as Martha Wier |
| 1949 | |
| 1948 | Studio One (TV Series) · as Kate Brookfield (uncredited) |
| 1948 | Ford Theatre (TV Series) · as Midge Mercer |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) · as Viola |
| 1948 | Raw Deal · as Ann Martin |
| 1948 | The Inside Story · as Francine Taylor |
| 1947 | Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman · as Martha Gray |
| 1947 | Carnegie Hall · as Nora Ryan |
| 1946 | A Letter for Evie · as Evie O'connor |
| 1945 | The Valley of Decision · as Constance Scott |
| 1944 | Music for Millions · as Rosalind |
| 1944 | Bride by Mistake · as Sylvia Lockwood |
| 1944 | None Shall Escape · as Marja Pacierkowski |
| 1943 | Lost Angel · as Katie Mallory |
| 1943 | Cry 'Havoc' · as Flo Norris |
| 1943 | Pilot #5 · as Freddie Andrews |
| 1943 | The Human Comedy · as Diana Steed |
| 1942 | Seven Sweethearts · as Regina 'reggie' Van Maaster |
| 1942 | Panama Hattie · as Leila Tree |
| 1942 | Kid Glove Killer · as Jane Mitchell |
| 1942 | The Affairs of Martha · as Martha Lindstrom |
| 1942 | Joe Smith, American · as Mary Smith |
| 1941 | Unholy Partners · as Gail Fenton |
| 1941 | Blossoms in the Dust · as Charlotte |
| 1941 | I'll Wait for You · as Pauline Miller |
| 1941 | The Penalty · as Katherine Logan |
| 1941 | Cheers for Miss Bishop · as Hope Thompson |
| 1941 | The Trial of Mary Dugan · as Agatha Hall |
| 1940 | Flight Command · as Claire |
| 1940 | Ellery Queen, Master Detective · as Barbara Braun |
| 1940 | Pride and Prejudice · as Mary Bennet |
| 1940 | Irene · as Miss Eleanor Worth |
| 1939 | Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President · as Kitty Crusper |
| 1939 | These Glamour Girls · as Betty Ainsbridge |
| 1939 | Winter Carnival · as Lucy Morgan |
| 1939 | The Hardys Ride High · as Susan Bowen |
| 1939 | Star Reporter · as Barbara Burnette |
| 1939 | Long Shot · as Martha Sharon |
| 1938 | Come on, Leathernecks! · as Valerie Taylor |
| 1937 | Born to the West · as Judy Worstall |
| 1937 | Thunder Trail · as Amy Morgan |
| 1937 | Annapolis Salute · as Julia Clemens |
| 1937 | Easy Living · as Girl Getting Coat Dropped On Her At Finale (uncredited) |
| 1936 | College Holiday · as Sylvia Smith |
| 1936 | The Accusing Finger · as Claire Patterson |
| 1936 | Easy to Take · as Donna Westlake |
| 1936 | Hollywood Boulevard · as Patricia Blakeford |
| 1936 | The Arizona Raiders · as Harriett Lindsay |
| 1936 | Desert Gold · as Judith 'judy' Belding |