Martha Scott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Scott
Scott in 1942
Born	Martha Ellen Scott (1912-09-22)September 22, 1912 Jamesport, Missouri, U.S.
Died	May 28, 2003(2003-05-28) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Masonic Cemetery
Education	University of Michigan (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1940–1990
Spouse(s)	Carlton Alsop ​ ​ (m. 1940; div. 1946)​ Mel Powell ​ ​ (m. 1946; died 1998)​
Children	3

Martha Ellen Scott (born September 22, 1912 – died May 28, 2003) was a talented American actress. She starred in many important movies. These included The Ten Commandments (1956) and Ben-Hur (1959). In both films, she played the mother of the main character, played by Charlton Heston.

Martha Scott first became famous on Broadway in 1938. She played Emily Webb in the play Our Town. Later, she acted in the 1940 film version of Our Town. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Martha Scott's Early Life and Education

Martha Scott was born in Jamesport, Missouri. Her mother was Letha Scott and her father was Walter Alva Scott. He was an engineer and owned a garage. Martha's mother was a distant cousin of U.S. President William McKinley.

When Martha was 13, her family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. They later moved to Detroit, Michigan. Martha became very interested in acting during high school. She studied drama at the University of Michigan. In 1934, she earned a teaching certificate and a degree in drama.

Martha Scott's Acting Career

Starting on Stage: Broadway Success

Frank Craven, Martha Scott, and John Craven in the first Broadway show of Our Town (1938)

After college, Martha Scott quickly found acting jobs. In 1934, she performed in Shakespeare plays. This was with the Globe Theatre Troupe at the Century of Progress fair in Chicago.

After that, she moved to New York City. There, she worked steadily in plays and on radio shows. In 1938, she made her big debut on Broadway. She starred in Thornton Wilder's play Our Town. She played Emily Webb, a young woman who sadly dies in the story.

Film Roles and Oscar Nomination

Martha Scott as Moses' mother, Yochabel, in The Ten Commandments (1956)

Two years later, Our Town was made into a movie. Martha Scott played Emily again in her first film role. Her performance was highly praised. It earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Martha Scott continued to work in movies for the next 40 years. She appeared in big epic films. These included The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur, The Desperate Hours, and Airport 1975.

She often worked with actor Charlton Heston. She played his mother twice and his wife twice. She was his mother in Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments. She was his wife in plays on stage.

Becoming a Producer

In 1968, Martha Scott, Henry Fonda, and Robert Ryan started a theater company. It was called the Plumstead Playhouse. Later, it became the Plumstead Theatre Company and moved to Los Angeles.

The company produced the play First Monday in October. They also made it into a film. Martha Scott helped produce both versions. Her last production was the play Twelve Angry Men. It was performed in Hollywood, California.

Television Appearances

Martha Scott also appeared in many TV shows. She started acting on television in its early days. In 1950, she starred in "The Cut Glass Bowl" on The Nash Airflyte Theater. She also made guest appearances on shows like Robert Montgomery Presents.

She continued to have guest roles through the 1960s. She appeared on Route 66, Ironside, and The Courtship of Eddie's Father. In the mid-1950s, she was the narrator for Modern Romances on NBC-TV.

In the 1970s, Martha Scott was a frequent TV guest star. She played recurring roles. She was Bob Newhart's mother on The Bob Newhart Show. She was also the mother of Colonel Steve Austin (Lee Majors) on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. She played Patricia Shepard, the mother of Sue Ellen and Kristin, on Dallas.

She also appeared in single episodes of popular shows. These included The Sandy Duncan Show, Columbo: Playback (1975), and The Love Boat. From 1986 to 1987, she played Jennifer Talbot on General Hospital. Her character was later murdered.

In the 1980s, she had a regular role on Secrets of Midland Heights. She also appeared in TV movies and shows like Magnum, P.I. and Highway to Heaven. Her last acting role was in 1990 in the movie Daughter of the Streets.

Martha Scott's Personal Life

Martha Scott with her second husband, Mel Powell, in 1947

The gravesite of Martha Scott and her husband Mel Powell in Jamesport, Missouri

Martha Scott was married twice. Her first marriage was to radio producer Carleton William Alsop from 1940 to 1946. Her second marriage was to jazz pianist and composer Mel Powell. They were married from 1946 until he passed away in 1998.

She had one son, Carleton Scott Alsop, with her first husband. She had two daughters, Mary Powell Harpel and Kathleen Powell, with her second husband.

Her son shared that Martha never forgot her hometown of Jamesport. She used the image of a peaceful cemetery there to prepare for her Oscar-nominated role in Our Town. She said it helped her imagine the characters in the play.

Martha Scott was a member of the Democratic Party. She supported Adlai Stevenson in the 1952 presidential election.

Martha Scott passed away on May 28, 2003, in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. She was 90 years old. She was buried next to her husband, Mel Powell, in the Masonic Cemetery in her hometown of Jamesport, Missouri.

Honors and Recognition

For her important work in theater, Martha Scott has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6126 Hollywood Boulevard.

Partial Filmography

Radio Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Martha Scott para niños