Marti Stevens ( 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."Blithe Spirit Becomes a Musical", The Times, November 4, 1964, page 16; and "Theatres", The Times, January 23, 1965, page 2. She also had a starring role in the 1962 film, All Night Long.
Early life Born Martha Schenk, she was the daughter of American film studio executive, Nicholas Schenck."Marti Stevens Comes to Ankara", Pittsburgh-Post Gazette, page 8, November 29, 1954. She was a close friend of actresses Marlene DietrichPage 11 "If you think she's Marlene, you're wrong! But she is a close friend", The Age, January 14, 1970. and Rachel Roberts.
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 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.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.
Music career Clubs In late November 1959, she began a two-week engagement at the Ankara club. 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.Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Marti Stevens Stays at Ankara", page 28 via news.google.com. Accessed May 26, 2024.
Other events 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.Barbara Cook, Lea Salonga, Billy Porter, Telly Leung Pay Tribute to Lena Horne, playbill.com, January 11, 2016.
Stage In 1960, Stevens appeared at the East 74th Street Theater in George Gershwin's Oh, Kay!, with Penny Fuller and Linda Lavin.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.
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.Amusements (page 108), The Age, March 14, 1970.
Film and television roles 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.5 Oldies But Goodies Streaming on Netflix to Consider Watching This Weekend By Tambay A. Obenson via blogs.indiewire.com. February 4, 2015. Stevens sings two songs in the film.
Filmography + 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 737Emergency-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
External links
Marti's World, a picture of Ms Stevens in the Belgian magazine Piccolo