Marsha Hunt
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting115
movieThe Grand Inquisitor
2008
Hazel Reedy
movieThe Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
1988
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Play on One
1988
Elvi Rogers
tvStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
Anne Jameson
tvMatlock
1986
Harriet
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Elvira Tree
tvMedical Story
1975
Sylvia Brent
tvPolice Story
1973
Mrs. Hines
movieJigsaw
1972
Dr. Gehlen
movieJohnny Got His Gun
1971
Joe's Mother
tvMarcus Welby, M.D.
1969
Mrs. Bellows
movieFear No Evil
1969
Mrs. Varney
tvThe Name of the Game
1968
Claudia Loring
tvIronside
1967
Sissy Cardwell
tvRun for Your Life
1965
Mrs. Southworth
tvThe Outer Limits
1963
Francesca Fields
tvSam Benedict
1962
Cora Wilcox
tvCain's Hundred
1961
Gloria Bonner
tvThe Defenders
1961
Della Martin
movieThe Plunderers
1960
Kate Miller
tvMy Three Sons
1960
Aunt Cecile Blackman
tvThe Twilight Zone
1959
Mrs. Henderson
movieBlue Denim
1959
Jessie Bartley
Peck's Bad Girl
1959
Jennifer Peck
movieBombers B-52
1957
Edith Brennan
movieBack from the Dead
1957
Kate Hazelton
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Claire Andrews / Dr. Sarah Martin / Julie Reynolds / Catha Duncan
No Place to Hide
1956
Anne Dobson
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Blanche Herbert
tvGunsmoke
1955
Sarah
tvClimax!
1954
Ann Williams / Julie Brennan
movieDiplomatic Passport
1954
Judy Anderson
movieWith This Ring
1954
Elise Miller John
movieThe Happy Time
1952
Susan Bonnard
movieActors and Sin
1952
Marcia Tillayou (segment Actor's Blood)
movieShe Loves Me Not
1949
Midge Mercer
movieMary Ryan, Detective
1949
Mary Ryan
movieTake One False Step
1949
Martha Wier
movieJigsaw
1949
Mrs. Hartley's Secretary (uncredited)
tvStudio One
1948
Janet Willson / Kate Brookfield (uncredited)
tvThe Philco Television Playhouse
1948
Viola / Phoebe Throssel
movieRaw Deal
1948
Ann Martin
movieThe Inside Story
1948
Francine Taylor
movieSmash-Up: The Story of a Woman
1947
Martha Gray
movieCarnegie Hall
1947
Nora Ryan
movieA Letter for Evie
1946
Evie O'Connor
movieThe Valley of Decision
1945
Constance Scott
movieMusic for Millions
1944
Rosalind
movieBride by Mistake
1944
Sylvia Lockwood
movieNone Shall Escape
1944
Marja Pacierkowski
movieTwenty Years After
1944
(archive footage)
movieLost Angel
1943
Katie Mallory
movieCry 'Havoc'
1943
Flo Norris
movieThousands Cheer
1943
Marsha Hunt
moviePilot #5
1943
Freddie Andrews
movieThe Human Comedy
1943
Diana Steed
movieSeven Sweethearts
1942
Regina 'Reggie' Van Maaster
moviePanama Hattie
1942
Leila Tree
movieThe Affairs of Martha
1942
Martha Lindstrom
movieKid Glove Killer
1942
Jane Mitchell
movieJoe Smith, American
1942
Mary Smith
movieUnholy Partners
1941
Gail Fenton
movieBlossoms in the Dust
1941
Charlotte
movieI'll Wait for You
1941
Pauline Miller
movieThe Penalty
1941
Katherine Logan
movieCheers for Miss Bishop
1941
Hope Thompson
movieThe Trial of Mary Dugan
1941
Agatha Hall
movieFlight Command
1940
Claire
movieEllery Queen, Master Detective
1940
Barbara Braun
moviePride and Prejudice
1940
Mary Bennet
movieWomen in Hiding
1940
Jane Taylor
movieIrene
1940
Miss Eleanor Worth
movieJoe and Ethel Turp Call on the President
1939
Kitty Crusper
movieRhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga
1939
Herself (uncredited)
movieThese Glamour Girls
1939
Betty Ainsbridge
movieWinter Carnival
1939
Lucy Morgan
movieThe Hardys Ride High
1939
Susan Bowen
movieStar Reporter
1939
Barbara Burnette
movieThe Long Shot
1939
Martha Sharon
movieCome On, Leathernecks!
1938
Valerie Taylor
movieBorn to the West
1937
Judy Worstall
movieHell Town
1937
Judy Rustoe
movieThunder Trail
1937
Amy Morgan
movieAnnapolis Salute
1937
Julia Clemens
movieEasy Living
1937
Girl Getting Coat Dropped on Her at Finale (uncredited)
movieMurder Goes to College
1937
Nora Barry
movieCollege Holiday
1936
Sylvia Smith
movieThe Accusing Finger
1936
Claire Patterson
movieEasy to Take
1936
Donna Westlake
movieHollywood Boulevard
1936
Patricia Blakeford
movieThe Arizona Raiders
1936
Harriett Lindsay
movieGentle Julia
1936
Julia Atwater
movieDesert Gold
1936
Judith 'Judy' Belding
movieThe Virginia Judge
1935
Mary Lee Calvert