Marti Stevens (née Martha Schenk; born New York City) is a retired American singer and actress. She appeared in television shows such as It Takes a Thief, The Love Boat and Stagecoach West. She appeared in an Australian production of the play Forty Carats and in High Spirits, the musical version of Blithe Spirit, in London's West End in 1964.[1] She also had a starring role in the 1962 film, All Night Long.
Marti Stevens | |
|---|---|
| Born | Martha Schenk New York City, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1950s to 1980s |
Early life
editBorn Martha Schenk, she was the daughter of American film studio executive, Nicholas Schenck.[2] She was a close friend of actresses Marlene Dietrich[3] and Rachel Roberts.[4]
In 1963, she had a surprise visit from a queen. Queen Frederika and Princess Irene of Greece were being chased down the road by protestors [clarification needed] [where?] and were ringing door bells looking for refuge. Stevens heard the bell ring and came to the door dressed in a bath towel. She let them in and gave them both a scotch.[5]
Music career
editClubs
editIn late November 1959, she began a two-week engagement at the Ankara club.[2] It was reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (December 6, 1959) that she, along with the Chandra Kaly Dancers, were to stay on an extra week.[6]
Other events
editIn January 2016, it was announced that Stevens, along with Barbara Cook, Billy Porter, Lea Salonga, De'Adre Aziza, Amanda Green, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Lindsay Mendez, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Telly Leung, and others were to perform at a benefit concert connected with the late Lena Horne. The event was to take place at New York City's Symphony Space on January 11, 2016.[7]
Stage
editIn 1960, Stevens appeared at the East 74th Street Theater in George Gershwin's Oh, Kay!, with Penny Fuller and Linda Lavin.[8][9][10]
In March 1970, having been brought to Australia by Philip Productions, she was appearing at the Anthenaeum theater in Melbourne with Tony Hanlon in the James Burrows directed Forty Carats.[3][11]
Film and television roles
editIn 1962, she had a role in the film All Night Long, a film with the British jazz-scene as its backdrop, based on Shakespeare's Othello. She played the role of Delia Lane, wife of a black musician, Aurelius Rex, played by Paul Harris. They become victim to the devious and sinister meddling by musician Johnny Cousin, played by Patrick McGoohan.[12] Stevens sings two songs in the film.
Filmography
edit| Title | Role | Director | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdulla the Great | Singer | Gregory Ratoff | 1955 | |
| Frische Brise | Singer | Ruprecht Essberger | 1955 | TV movie |
| All Night Long | Delia Lane | Basil Dearden | 1962 | Film, based on Othello |
| Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women | Blanche Burke | Buzz Kulik | 1978 | TV movie |
| The Choice | Marie | David Greene | 1981 | TV movie |
| The Day the Bubble Burst | Role | Joseph Hardy | 1982 | TV movie |
| Title | Episode # | Role | Director | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M Squad | Contraband | Eve Parker | Don Medford | 1958 | Season 2, episode 13 |
| Stagecoach West | The Saga of Jeremy Boone | Felicia Sparks | Thomas Carr | 1960 | Season 1, episode 8 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.729 | Barbara Dodge | Alastair Reid | 1964 | Season 1, episode 729 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.730 | Barbara Dodge | Alastair Reid | 1964 | Season 1, episode 730 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.732 | Barbara Dodge | Cecil Petty | 1964 | Season 1, episode 732 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.733 | Barbara Dodge | Shaun O'Riordan | 1964 | Season 1, episode 733 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.735 | Barbara Dodge | Alastair Reid | 1964 | Season 1, episode 735 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.737 | Barbara Dodge | Shaun O'Riordan | 1964 | Season 1, episode 737 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.738 | Barbara Dodge | Cecil Petty | 1964 | Season 1, episode 738 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.739 | Barbara Dodge | Shaun O'Riordan | 1964 | Season 1, episode 739 |
| Emergency-Ward 10 | Episode #1.740 | Barbara Dodge | Josephine Douglas | 1964 | Season 1, episode 740 |
| It Takes a Thief | Locked in the Cradle of the Keep | Commissar Malenska | Leonard Horn | 1968 | Season 1, episode 14 |
| Mannix | End of the Rainbow | Mrs. O'Farrell | Robert L. Friend | 1968 | Season 2, episode 5 |
| Kojak | Mouse | Beth Avild | Harvey S. Laidman | 1978 | Season 5, episode 14 |
| Hart to Hart | This Lady Is Murder | Althea Prinz | Earl Bellamy | 1980 | Season 2, episode 3 |
| The Love Boat | The Lady from Laramie/Vicki Swings/Phantom Bride | Miss Singleton | Jack Arnold | 1981 | Season 5, episode 7 |
References
edit- ^ "Blithe Spirit Becomes a Musical", The Times, November 4, 1964, page 16; and "Theatres", The Times, January 23, 1965, page 2.
- ^ a b "Marti Stevens Comes to Ankara", Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, page 8, November 29, 1954.
- ^ a b Page 11 "If you think she's Marlene, you're wrong! But she is a close friend", The Age, January 14, 1970.
- ^ "9780060152352: No Bells on Sunday: The Rachel Roberts Journals - AbeBooks - Rachel Roberts: 0060152354". abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, May 1, 1963 Page 3 Heavy Guard As Greek Queen Leaves Britain After Troubled Visit, Both Guards Knocked Down via news.google.com. Accessed May 26, 2024.
- ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Marti Stevens Stays at Ankara", page 28 via news.google.com. Accessed May 26, 2024.
- ^ Barbara Cook, Lea Salonga, Billy Porter, Telly Leung Pay Tribute to Lena Horne, playbill.com, January 11, 2016.
- ^ Donna H. Krasnow, Daniel E. Lewis (2020). Daniel Lewis; A Life in Choreography and the Art of Dance via books.google.com. Accessed May 26, 2024.
- ^ John Corry (September 24, 1976). "Broadway". The New York Times.
- ^ "East 74th Street Theatre - Theater Information". Broadway World.
- ^ Amusements (page 108), The Age, March 14, 1970.
- ^ 5 Oldies But Goodies Streaming on Netflix to Consider Watching This Weekend By Tambay A. Obenson via blogs.indiewire.com. February 4, 2015.