Eva Marie Saint dies at 102: Legendary actor won Oscar for debut role in On the Waterfront

Eva Marie Saint, the renowned actress who won an Oscar for her debut performance in On the Waterfront and starred alongside Cary Grant in the Hitchcock masterpiece North by Northwest, passed away at the age of 102. Saint's acting career spanned over seven decades, during which she appeared in a mere seven films. Her memorable debut in On the Waterfront, as Marlon Brando's love interest, garnered her instant stardom.

After her Oscar win, Saint defied studio expectations by declining offers for subsequent big-budget productions. Instead, she focused on television roles and later returned to film, achieving renewed popularity in the 1980s for her roles in Moonlighting and Nothing in Common. Saint's acting career was marked by her independence and selective choices, often influenced by her personal life.

She met her husband, TV and stage director Jeffrey Hayden, while filming North by Northwest. Hayden played a crucial role in her decision to accept the Hitchcock project. The couple remained married for 65 years until Hayden's death in 2016. Saint's career continued to flourish in the 1990s and 21st century, with roles in television miniseries and movies such as Because of Winn-Dixie and Winter's Tale.