Marta Heflin

Marta Heflin (March 29, 1945 – September 18, 2013) was an American actress who appeared in several Robert Altman films, including Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and A Perfect Couple.[1][2][3][4][5] Known for her waifish appearance, Heflin also acted in various New York stage musicals prior to her film career, such as Fiddler on the Roof, Hair, and Jesus Christ Superstar.[2]

Marta Heflin
Born
Michelle Heflin

March 29, 1945
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedSeptember 18, 2013 (aged 68)
Manhattan, NY, U.S.
OccupationActress

Marta was the daughter of American theatre producer and journalist Julia Heflin and public relations executive Martin Heflin.[2] She was the niece of Oscar-winning actor Van Heflin and actress Frances Heflin.[1]

After struggling with prolonged illness, Heflin died in Manhattan at the age of 68.[1] In 2014, the Marta Heflin Foundation, a private grant-making foundation that supports the work of other charitable organizations, was set up as part of her legacy.[6]

Film career

After appearing in a number of stage musicals in New York in the 1960s and 70s, Heflin made her transition to the small screen in the soap opera The Doctors.[2] Next came a supporting role as Quentin in Frank Pierson's 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.[7] After working with director Robert Altman in the comedy of manners A Wedding (1978), Heflin was handpicked to replace actress Sandy Dennis in the role of Sheila Shea, a rock singer who dates an older Greek-American businessman after meeting him through a videotape computer dating service, in Altman's film A Perfect Couple (1979).[1]

In the 1980s, Heflin appeared in two TV movies: Playing for Time (1980), a drama set in a concentration camp starring Vanessa Redgrave, and The Gentleman Bandit (1981), which followed a priest falsely accused of a string of armed robberies.[2] In 1982, Heflin reunited with Altman for the Broadway production of Ed Graczyk's play Come Back to the Five and Dime, in which she played Edna Louise, a member of an all-female fan club named the Disciples of James Dean.[1] She reprised the role in Altman's film adaptation of the play later that year.[1]

Legacy

In 2014, the Marta Heflin Foundation was established to support the work of other charitable organizations.[6] Heflin's private Foundation has since awarded PAWS NY with a $10,000 grant for its Foster and Emergency Care Program, which provides care for pets whose guardians are facing health emergencies of their own.[8]

Filmography
Film and television
Year Title Role Notes
1969 The Doctors Shana Golan Regular role, 38 episodes
1976 A Star Is Born Quentin
1978 A Wedding Shelby Munker
1979 A Perfect Couple Sheila Shea
1980 Playing for Time Esther TV movie
1981 The Gentleman Bandit Marie TV movie
1982 Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean Edna Louise
1982 The King of Comedy Young Girl (final film role)

References
  1. "Actress Marta Heflin Dies at 68". The Hollywood Reporter. 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2013-09-27.
  2. Marta Heflin, Actor, Dies at 68; Waif Seen in Altman Films, The New York Times
  3. "Marta Heflin Dies, Actress Often Worked with Robert Altman". people.com. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  4. "Marta Heflin, Film and Broadway Actress, Dies at 68". eonline.com. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  5. "Actress Marta Heflin Dies at 68". parade.com. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  6. "Charity Navigator - Unrated Profile for Marta Heflin Foundation". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  7. "Marta Heflin". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  8. "PAWS NY Receives Grant From Marta Heflin Foundation To Formalize Innovative Foster and Emergency Care Program – PAWS NY". Retrieved 2019-03-10.

Marta Heflin at IMDb

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