Eva Marie Saint, Oscar-winning actress, dies at 102

Eva Marie Saint, an Oscar-winning actress celebrated for her roles in classic films such as "On the Waterfront" and "North by Northwest," died Tuesday at her Los Angeles home. She was 102. A family spokesperson announced her death, citing natural causes.

Saint, one of the last prominent actresses from Hollywood's Golden Age, enjoyed a career that spanned more than seven decades. Born in Newark, New Jersey, her work earned her an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a place in the pantheon of iconic film performers.

Her early career saw her transition from live television in New York, beginning with the NBC-TV show "Campus Hoopla" in 1946, to stage productions. By the 1950s, she garnered Emmy nominations for her performances in Paddy Chayefsky's "Middle of the Night" and a musical adaptation of "Our Town," which featured Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman.

Saint made her feature film debut in 1954's "On the Waterfront," directed by Elia Kazan and starring Marlon Brando. Her portrayal of Edie Doyle earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1955. At the time of her win, Saint was pregnant with her son, Darrell. She and her husband, Jeffrey Hayden, who died in 2016, were married for 65 years and also had a daughter, Laurette. Saint later recounted in a 2010 interview that she famously paused before accepting her Oscar because her husband was holding her hand so tightly due to her pregnancy.

She went on to star in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller "North by Northwest" opposite Cary Grant. Hitchcock personally selected her for the role, reportedly after a shopping trip to Bergdorf Goodman to choose her costumes. The film is widely regarded as a masterpiece and is considered one of Hitchcock's most significant works.

Saint's filmography also includes roles in "Exodus," "The Sandpiper" with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, and "A Hatful of Rain."

In later decades, Saint returned to television, appearing in the TV movie "Fatal Vision" with "On the Waterfront" co-star Karl Malden and taking on a recurring role as the mother of Cybill Shepherd's character in the series "Moonlighting."

She introduced herself to a new generation of viewers with roles in the 2005 film "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the 2006 superhero movie "Superman Returns."

In 2018, Saint made a notable appearance at the 90th Academy Awards, presenting the award for Best Costume Design. Looking back at her 100th birthday in 2024, she told People magazine that she felt vibrant and active, enjoying walks, watching baseball, and spending time with her four grandchildren and two children.

Saint is survived by her two children and four grandchildren.