Martha Scott
Early Life
Martha Ellen Scott was born on September 22, 1912, in Jamesport, Missouri, to Letha (née McKinley) and Walter Alva Scott, an engineer and garage owner. Her mother was a second cousin of U.S. President William McKinley. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Scott became interested in acting and participated in productions at local theaters there.
Education
Scott attended the University of Michigan, where she became a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. In her sophomore year, she began taking acting classes and decided to pursue a career in drama. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in drama in 1934.
Career
After graduation, Scott moved to New York City and found work with the Federal Theatre Project. She made her Broadway debut in the original production of Our Town by Thornton Wilder in 1938, playing the lead role of Emily Webb. Her performance was well received, and she won the Theatre World Award for her portrayal.
Scott reprised her role in the 1940 film adaptation of Our Town, earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She continued to work in both film and theater throughout the 1940s, with notable roles in films such as The Howards of Virginia and One Foot in Heaven.
In the 1950s, Scott transitioned to television, appearing in a variety of series and made-for-TV movies. She also continued to work in theater, directing and starring in productions at the Pasadena Playhouse in California.
Scott's later career included roles in popular television series such as Dallas and Murder, She Wrote. Her final film role was in The Turning Point in 1977.
Personal Life
Scott was married twice. Her first marriage, to radio producer Carlton Alsop, ended in divorce. She had two children with her second husband, Mel Powell, a composer and the dean of the Yale School of Music. Scott was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party and was active in various charities and civic organizations.
Death and Legacy
Scott died on May 28, 2003, in Van Nuys, California, from natural causes. She was 90 years old. Her contributions to film, theater, and television have been recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
