Marti Stevens (actress)

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Marti Stevens
Born
Martha Schenk

New York City, United States
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1950s to 1980s

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.

Early life[edit]

Born 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[edit]

Clubs[edit]

In 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[edit]

In 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[edit]

In 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[edit]

In 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]

Film
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
Television
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]

  1. ^ "Blithe Spirit Becomes a Musical", The Times, November 4, 1964, page 16; and "Theatres", The Times, January 23, 1965, page 2.
  2. ^ a b "Marti Stevens Comes to Ankara", Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, page 8, November 29, 1954.
  3. ^ a b Page 11 "If you think she's Marlene, you're wrong! But she is a close friend", The Age, January 14, 1970.
  4. ^ "9780060152352: No Bells on Sunday: The Rachel Roberts Journals - AbeBooks - Rachel Roberts: 0060152354". abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-12-24.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Marti Stevens Stays at Ankara", page 28 via news.google.com. Accessed May 26, 2024.
  7. ^ Barbara Cook, Lea Salonga, Billy Porter, Telly Leung Pay Tribute to Lena Horne, playbill.com, January 11, 2016.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ John Corry (September 24, 1976). "Broadway". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "East 74th Street Theatre - Theater Information". Broadway World.
  11. ^ Amusements (page 108), The Age, March 14, 1970.
  12. ^ 5 Oldies But Goodies Streaming on Netflix to Consider Watching This Weekend By Tambay A. Obenson via blogs.indiewire.com. February 4, 2015.

External links[edit]

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