20th Century Fox via Everett Collection
Oscar-nominated actress Martha Hyer has died, aged 89. The Hollywood star passed away on 31 May (14) at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, according to Santafenewmexican.com.
She started her acting career with small roles, including an appearance in TV show The Lone Ranger, before progressing to more substantial parts in films such as 1954 romantic comedy Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Hyer went on to work with some of Hollywood’s top leading men, including Rock Hudson in 1957’s Battle Hymn and Cary Grant in 1958’s Houseboat, before starring opposite Frank Sinatra in 1958’s Some Came Running in a role which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
She lost out on the award and went on to miss another huge Hollywood opportunity when the role of Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 thriller Psycho bypassed her and went to Janet Leigh instead. Her big screen career ended with a role in 1971 movie Day of the Wolves. She released an autobiography about her life in Hollywood, Finding My Way: A Hollywood Memoir, in 1990.
Hyer was married to Casablanca producer Hal B. Wallis until his death in 1986.
