Martha Hyer

• Name — Martha Hyer • Born — 10 August 1924 • Birthplace — Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. • Died — 31 May 2014 • Place of death — Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S. • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1946–1974 • Education — Northwestern University

Martha Hyer was born in Fort Worth, Texas, into a wealthy family, the daughter of Julien Capers Hyer, an attorney and judge, and Agnes Rebecca (née Barnhart). She was the middle of three sisters, with Agnes Ann and Jeanne. The Hyers were active in the Methodist church, where her father was a highly respected Sunday school teacher. Hyer graduated from Arlington Heights High School and then from Northwestern University with a degree in drama. She was in the sorority Pi Beta Phi with actress Patricia Neal. She then moved to California to study at the Pasadena Playhouse, and soon after was signed to a film contract with RKO. Hyer was married twice, first to producer C. Ray Stahl and later to producer Hal B. Wallis. She converted to Judaism, Wallis' religion, after their marriage. Wallis and Hyer remained together until his death in 1986. They contributed funds towards the construction of The Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theatre, a black box theater, at Northwestern University. She did not have any children.

Hyer enjoyed a quiet retirement through the 1980s and 1990s. She died on May 31, 2014, at the age of 89 from natural causes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she had lived for many years.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1946 — The Locket — Bridesmaid — Uncredited • 1947 — Born to Kill — Maid — Uncredited • Thunder Mountain — Ellie Jorth • The Woman on the Beach — Mrs. Barton — Uncredited • The Judge Steps Out — Catherine Bailey Struthers III • 1948 — The Velvet Touch — Helen Adams • Gun Smugglers — Judy Davis • 1949 — Rustlers — Ruth Abbott • Roughshod — Marcia • The Clay Pigeon — Miss Harwick, Wheeler's Receptionist • 1950 — Outcast of Black Mesa — Ruth Dorn • Salt Lake Raiders — Helen Thornton • The Lawless — Caroline Tyler • Frisco Tornado — Jean Martin • The Kangaroo Kid — Mary Corbett • 1951 — Oriental Evil — Cheryl Banning • 1952 — Wild Stallion — Caroline Cullen • Geisha Girl — Peggy Burnes • Yukon Gold — Marie Briand • 1953 — Abbott and Costello Go to Mars — Janie Howe • So Big — Paula Hempel • 1954 — Riders to the Stars — Dr. Jane Flynn • The Scarlet Spear — Christine • The Battle of Rogue River — Brett McClain • Lucky Me — Lorraine Thayer • Down Three Dark Streets — Connie Anderson • Sabrina — Elizabeth Tyson • Cry Vengeance — Peggy Harding • 1955 — Wyoming Renegades — Nancy Warren • Francis in the Navy — Betsy Donevan • Kiss of Fire — Felicia • Paris Follies of 1956 — Ruth Harmon • 1956 — Red Sundown — Caroline Murphy • Showdown at Abilene — Peggy Bigelow • 1957 — Kelly and Me — Lucy Castle • Battle Hymn — Mary Hess • Mister Cory — Abby Vollard • The Delicate Delinquent — Martha Henshaw • My Man Godfrey — Cornelia Bullock • 1958 — Paris Holiday — Ann McCall • Once Upon a Horse... — Miss Amity Babb • Houseboat — Carolyn Gibson • Some Came Running — Gwen French — Nominated - Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress • 1959 — The Big Fisherman — Herodias • The Best of Everything — Barbara Lamont • 1960 — Ice Palace — Dorothy Wendt Kennedy • Mistress of the World — Karin Johansson • Desire in the Dust — Melinda Marquand • 1961 — The Right Approach — Anne Perry • The Last Time I Saw Archie — Peggy Kramer • 1962 — A Girl Named Tamiko — Fay Wilson • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour — Alice Marsden — Season 1 Episode 1: "A Piece of the Action" • 1963 — The Man from the Diner's Club — Lucy • Wives and Lovers — Lucinda Ford • 1964 — Pyro... The Thing Without a Face — Laura Blanco • The Carpetbaggers — Jennie Denton • First Men in the Moon — Kate / Kate Callender • Bikini Beach — Vivien Clements • Blood on the Arrow — Nancy Mailer • 1965 — The Sons of Katie Elder — Mary Gordon • Bewitched — Margaret Marshall — Season 1 Episode 18: "The Cat's Meow" • War, Italian Style — Lieutenant Inge Schultze • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour — Judith 'Judy' Mullett — Season 3 Episode 12: "Crimson Witness" • 1966 — The Chase — Mary Fuller • The Night of the Grizzly — Angela Cole • Cuernavaca en primavera — Segment "El nido de amor" • Picture Mommy Dead — Francene Shelley • 1967 — The Happening — Monica • The House of 1,000 Dolls — Rebecca • Another's Wife — Ana María • Some May Live — Kate Meredith • Catch as Catch Can — Luisa Chiaramonte • Family Affair — Carol Haven — Season 2 Episode 14: "Star Dust" • 1969 — Once You Kiss a Stranger — Lee • Crossplot — Jo Grinling • 1971 — The Day of the Wolves — Maggie Anderson — Final film role