The film and TV star, known for winning an Oscar for ‘On the Waterfront,’ died on Oct. 6. She was 102
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Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Eva Marie Saint was a living legend.
The Oscar-winning actress, who turned 102 on July 4, 2026, lived through several eras of Hollywood. Though she retired from the industry, she had roles from 1954’s On the Waterfront, all the way to 2014, when she voiced Katara in the Nickelodeon animated series The Legend of Korra.
Ahead of hitting the big 100 in 2024, she told PEOPLE, “I certainly don’t feel 100 years old. I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends. A good life.”
The actress died of natural causes while “surrounded by family and loved ones” at her Los Angeles home on Tuesday, Oct. 6, according to a press release. She is survived by her two children, Darrell and Laurette, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Ahead, see Eva Marie Saint’s incredible life in photos.
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Love of Her Life
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Eva Marie Saint was born in Newark, New Jersey and studied at Ohio’s Bowling Green State University.
At 26-years-old, she married husband Jeff Hayden, pictured here, a television director and producer. They would remain together until his death in 2016.
02 of 17
Breakout Star
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While she cut her teeth in TV, appearing on shows such as One Man’s Family, Campus Hoopla as well as Martin Kane, Private Eye, Saint made her film debut in 1954’s On the Waterfront opposite Marlon Brando. On her first go, she was nominated for and won Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars.
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Winner, Winner
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She was all smiles at the 1955 Academy Awards with her gold statuette, beating out Nina Foch, Katy Jurado, Claire Trevor and Jan Sterling.
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Couch Surfing
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The actress radiated grace, flashing a smile and striking a subtle pose for a portrait in the ‘50s.
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Dress for Press
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In the television musical Our Town, she starred alongside Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman.
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Under Her Umbrella
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Throughout her film career, she collaborated with plenty of screen legends, including Elizabeth Taylor in Raintree County.
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Movie Magic
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Her second most-famous film, spy thriller North by Northwest, saw her play the love interest of Cary Grant‘s Roger Thornhill.
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Signature Blonde
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For her entire acting career, she rocked wavy blonde hair — as seen in this headshot from 1960.
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Now Presenting…
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Saint returned to the Academy Awards in 1961 to present Best Supporting Actor to Peter Ustinov for Spartacus.
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Actress in an Ascot
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She had a supporting role in the 1966 racing drama Grand Prix, centered around Formula One drivers.
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Award-Winning Smile
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In 1978, the Oscar winner came back to the awards show to present Best Foreign Language Film alongside Jack Valenti.
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Ice Ice Blondie
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She rocked her trademark blonde and a statement necklace to her first Actors Studio Awards in 1980.
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Dearest Daughter
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Saint made a rare public appearance with her daughter Laurette Hayden for a night at Le Dome in West Hollywood, California. She also shared son Darrell with Jeffrey.
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Two Shining Stars
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She costarred with future Friends actress Courteney Cox in the 1988 made-for-TV holiday film I’ll Be Home for Christmas, in which the two played mother and daughter.
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‘E’ for Excellence
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The acclaimed actress added an Emmy to her trophy shelf when she took home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for People Like Us in 1990.
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Feeling Super
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The actress continued to work throughout the 2000s. Here. she waves at photographers and fans as she attends the 2006 premiere of Superman Returns in which she played Martha Kent.
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Later Life
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Though she stepped away from the spotlight in her 90s, the actress continued to do voice work. Her last major film role came in 2014’s Winter’s Tale and her last credit was voicing Oscric Dane in the 2022 podcast series Radio Play Revival.
