Eva Marie Saint, the graceful Oscar-winning actress remembered above all for her luminous screen debut in On the Waterfront, has died at the age of 102. In a statement released through her representative Jeff Sanderson and reported by USA Today, the family confirmed that Saint passed away on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles, "surrounded by family and loved ones."
Born July 4, 1924, in Newark, New Jersey, Saint won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her very first film role — the tender, principled Edie Doyle opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954), a landmark drama that collected eight Oscars, including Best Picture. After the death of Olivia de Havilland in July 2020, Saint became the oldest living Oscar-winning actor, a distinction she carried with quiet dignity until her own passing.
Image: Wikimedia Commons — public-domain studio publicity portrait, c. 1951.
Key Facts
Name: Eva Marie Saint
Age at Death: 102
Date of Death: October 6, 2026
Cause of Death: Natural causes, at her Los Angeles home
Birth: July 4, 1924, Newark, New Jersey
Oscar Win: Best Supporting Actress, On the Waterfront (1954) — her film debut
Famous Films: On the Waterfront (1954), North by Northwest (1959), Exodus (1960), The Sandpiper (1965), Grand Prix (1966), Superman Returns (2006)
Career Highlights
Saint arrived in films with the rarest of entrances. Cast by Elia Kazan as Edie Doyle in On the Waterfront, she brought a radiant sincerity to the screen opposite Marlon Brando — and walked away with the Academy Award on her first try, one of the most storied debut wins in Hollywood history.
Her Hitchcock years sealed her legend. As the cool, enigmatic Eve Kendall in North by Northwest (1959), she matched Cary Grant beat for beat in a thriller that remains a pinnacle of the genre, playing a woman whose loyalties keep shifting until the final reel.
The decades that followed showed her range and staying power, from the epic sweep of How the West Was Won to a memorable run on television's Moonlighting and an Emmy win in 1990 for People Like Us. Married to director Jeffrey Hayden from 1951 until his death in 2016, she devoted her later years to family — and to an audience that never forgot her.
Her farewell comes in a season of goodbyes across the entertainment world, as fans also pay tribute to Freddie Jackson, the R&B legend and take in the news of Sass Jordan's death in the Canadian rock scene.
Watch the Official Video
Revisit the Hitchcock classic with Warner Bros.' official 4K trailer for North by Northwest below.
For more big-screen news, see our guide to the Clayface (2026) release date, cast and trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Eva Marie Saint die?
She died of natural causes at her home in Los Angeles on October 6, 2026, at the age of 102. According to a statement from her representative Jeff Sanderson, she was surrounded by family and loved ones.
What is she most famous for?
Her Oscar-winning film debut as Edie Doyle opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront (1954), and her iconic turn as Eve Kendall opposite Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (1959).
Who did she play in North by Northwest?
She played Eve Kendall, a cool and mysterious blonde who draws Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill into a dangerous game of mistaken identity and espionage.
Was she the oldest living Oscar winner?
Yes. Following Olivia de Havilland's death in July 2020, Eva Marie Saint became the oldest living Academy Award winner, holding the distinction until her death at 102.
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