Actress. A versatile performer, she is probably best remembered for her roles in two of Robert Altman's films. The niece of actor Van Heflin, she was raised in Washington by a well-off family and as a young adult journeyed to New York hoping for success in show business. Marta got her big break in a 1967 production of "Brigadoon" when she was promoted from the chorus on short notice to fill-in for an indisposed Karen Morrow in the role of Meg. Kept busy on Broadway in such shows as "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Hair", and "Fiddler on the Roof", she made her silver screen bow in the 1976 "A Star Is Born" then in 1979 earned praise as a young rock singer who falls for a middle aged man in Altman's "A Perfect Couple". She appeared in the 1980 made for television Holocaust drama "Playing for Time", starred in 1981's "The Gentleman Bandit", was a pregnant girl attending a James Dean fan club reunion in Altman's 1982 "Come Back to the Five and Dime", also in 1982 received good reviews for her turn in "The King of Comedy", and had a recurring role on the afternoon soap "The Doctors". For many years a respected Cabaret singer on the New York nightclub circuit, Marta appeared in three Altman retrospectives, lived out her days in Manhattan, and died following a protracted illness.
Actress. A versatile performer, she is probably best remembered for her roles in two of Robert Altman's films. The niece of actor Van Heflin, she was raised in Washington by a well-off family and as a young adult journeyed to New York hoping for success in show business. Marta got her big break in a 1967 production of "Brigadoon" when she was promoted from the chorus on short notice to fill-in for an indisposed Karen Morrow in the role of Meg. Kept busy on Broadway in such shows as "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Hair", and "Fiddler on the Roof", she made her silver screen bow in the 1976 "A Star Is Born" then in 1979 earned praise as a young rock singer who falls for a middle aged man in Altman's "A Perfect Couple". She appeared in the 1980 made for television Holocaust drama "Playing for Time", starred in 1981's "The Gentleman Bandit", was a pregnant girl attending a James Dean fan club reunion in Altman's 1982 "Come Back to the Five and Dime", also in 1982 received good reviews for her turn in "The King of Comedy", and had a recurring role on the afternoon soap "The Doctors". For many years a respected Cabaret singer on the New York nightclub circuit, Marta appeared in three Altman retrospectives, lived out her days in Manhattan, and died following a protracted illness.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
Advertisement
See more Heflin memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
