Key facts
- Eva Marie Saint, Oscar and Emmy winner, died Tuesday at 102.
- She was best known for her role as Edie Doyle in "On the Waterfront" and as a spy in "North by Northwest."
- Saint died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles.
- Her career began in the early 1950s and spanned more than seven decades.
- She appeared in 20 feature films and was a prolific television performer, winning an Emmy for "People Like Us."
Eva Marie Saint, an Oscar and Emmy-winning actress celebrated for her roles in classic films like "On the Waterfront" and "North by Northwest," died Tuesday at the age of 102. Her death was confirmed by her representative, Jeff Sanderson, who stated she passed away peacefully from natural causes at her Los Angeles home, surrounded by family.
Saint, a luminous presence in Hollywood, began her career in the early 1950s and became known for her understated complexity. She earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her film debut as Edie Doyle in Elia Kazan's 1954 drama "On the Waterfront," where she starred opposite Marlon Brando. She later captivated audiences as a sultry spy in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 thriller "North by Northwest," starring alongside Cary Grant.
Throughout her career, which spanned more than seven decades, Saint appeared in approximately 20 feature films. She also had a prolific career in television, earning five Emmy nominations and winning one for her role in the 1990 miniseries "People Like Us." She also had a recurring role on the 1980s TV series "Moonlighting."
Saint often spoke about her career choices, including turning down roles to focus on raising her children, stating she did not aspire to be a superstar. As film roles became less frequent, she found satisfaction in television work. Her later film appearances included "Superman Returns" (2006), "Winter's Tale" (2014), and "Because of Winn-Dixie" (2005).