This Legendary ’60s Actress Turned 100 — Here’s What We Know About Her Life Now After Losing Her Husband of 65 Years

The veteran actress, who turned 100 on Independence Day, rose to fame in the 1960s. Her acting career lasted nearly 80 years.

The celebrity’s long time in show business led to a life filled with unforgettable moments. Ahead of her birthday in July 2024, she spoke warmly about how she planned to honor the day in an interview.

“I’m looking forward to spending my 100th birthday in Los Angeles with my dear, dear family. Four generations of family members will be gathering together from Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Barbara and San Francisco,” the family matriarch shared.

With her birthday plans in place, the Golden Globe nominee also divulged about how she spends her days. Despite reaching the milestone, she added:

“I certainly don’t feel 100 years old. I continue to take walks out in the fresh air, like watching baseball — especially the Los Angeles Dodgers, and enjoy time with my family and friends. A good life.”

Along with enjoying simple pleasures and family time, the public figure also carries memories of a long and meaningful marriage.

Her husband of more than sixty years, television director Jeffrey Hayden, passed away in December 2016 at age 90. He died at their Los Angeles home after battling cancer for a year.

Even though the actress lost her longtime partner, their story remains a special part of her life. They first met in New York City and were married in October 1951.

Together, the couple raised two children — Darrell, born in April 1955, and Laurette, born in July 1958 — and later welcomed three grandchildren into the family. Of their relationship, the mother of two once said:

“We do everything together.”

Their bond ran deep, marked by unwavering encouragement and shared dreams across decades. Jeffrey stood by his wife’s side throughout her journey, even during times when motherhood made her career more challenging.

Balancing her roles both on screen and at home wasn’t left to chance — it came down to firm choices and a clear sense of priorities. In a 2014 interview, she explained:

“It was never an issue because I made decisions. I had an agent once who wanted me to make many more movies. I said, ‘I can’t. I can only do one a year, if that. I have children, young children.'”

When he told her, “‘Well, I guess you won’t be a superstar,'” she simply answered, “‘Well, I guess not.'” Her decision was final and she fired him.

During the filming of “Exodus,” the celebrity asked to bring her entire family — husband, children, parents, and mother-in-law — with her to Israel, proving again that home always came first. In a separate interview, she expressed:

“I want to continue working, but my family always comes first. And that’s how I’ve always felt.”

The actress first stepped into the world of screen acting in 1947, earning her first credit in a television version of “A Christmas Carol.” Her transition from television to film brought swift recognition and lasting impact.

In 1955, she starred in the critically acclaimed “On the Waterfront,” a role that earned her an Academy Award. Her Oscar win for the film came at a notable moment in her personal life.

She was nine months pregnant when she accepted the accolade. Looking back in an interview, she recalled the night clearly. With tension between East and West Coast film industries, the star hadn’t expected a New York-based black-and-white film to win.

At the time, her husband joked she should count to ten before standing if her name was called. When it was, she paused, walked to the stage, and quipped, “I’m so excited I might have the baby right here.” The short and sincere speech, she later said, felt more fitting than the long ones often heard today.

Almost sixty years later, the family woman appeared at the Oscars once more — this time to present the nominees for Costume Design. As the audience applauded her entrance, she paused to say:

“That means so much to me, having lost my husband last year, after 65 years. And we would come to this Academy every year, and I miss him and [the applause] made up for it, and it was so loud I know he heard it.”

Following her early success, a new project landed on her desk — but it didn’t win her over immediately. She was offered a part in “North by Northwest,” but was unsure about accepting the role.

Her hesitation didn’t last long, thanks to a timely nudge from her husband, who believed deeply in the chance in front of her. She recalled:

“I vividly remember him saying, ‘Honey…I’ll take care of the children, and I want you to really think about this and reread this script.'”

Trusting his encouragement, she went ahead with the role and, in 1959, appeared in the thriller “North by Northwest.” Looking back, the celebrity shared how much she enjoyed making the film, especially the moment Cary Grant playfully told her she wouldn’t be allowed to cry and that they would have fun on set.

Beyond her film work, actress Eva Marie Saint also found great success on the small screen. In 1990, she won an Emmy Award for her performance in the television movie “People Like Us,” and throughout her career, earned four additional Emmy nominations.

Thanks to her lasting impact in both mediums, Saint holds two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles — one for film, the other for television.

Her ability to move between film and television helped her remain active in the industry for decades. Yet, as time went on, she noticed the changes in the kinds of roles offered to older performers.

In a 2010 interview, she spoke candidly about the shift. Saint agreed with co-star Angela Lansbury’s view that roles for older actors had become limited and often poorly written.

She noted that many writers no longer understood the depth found in works by Tennessee Williams or Eugene O’Neill. Still, the TV star wasn’t frustrated — she kept performing, mentioning an upcoming appearance in “Love Letters,” and stayed fulfilled by her family life.

Despite the limited roles in her later years, Saint continued to perform when meaningful opportunities came her way. Before stepping away from the industry entirely, her final contributions were voice roles in two podcast series.

In “The Pack Podcast” between 2020 and 2021, she voiced characters such as Aunt Esther, Mrs. Brown, and Dottie Rose across three episodes. Then, in 2022, the two-time BAFTA nominee appeared in a single episode of “Radio Play Revival” as Osric Dane.

After her final voice roles, she walked away from the spotlight but left behind moments that captured her quiet charm. She once graced the cover of Life magazine and joked in an interview, “I was in it for the fame!” before adding, “Once people start responding to your work as an artist, it’s very fulfilling.”

Despite the attention, Saint never sought celebrity. She recalled walking into a theater with Grant and hearing the crowd’s reaction. When she asked how he handled it, he replied, “Eva Marie, it’s fine… I made them happy.”

Even after decades in the limelight, Saint kept a sharp sense of humor — and a grounded view on life in and out of Hollywood. In a playful exchange about their long marriage, her husband pushed back on the idea that lasting relationships were rare in the industry.

He listed friends with decades-long marriages, while she jested back, pointing out they were either exceptions — or no longer living. Though naturally reserved, Saint never fully stepped away.

She made a brief appearance in “Winter’s Tale,” a film filled with wonder and memory. Still, her own story won’t be found in any scandal-filled memoir.

When told she should write a book called “How to Make It in Hollywood and Be a Normal Person,” she said, “It would never sell… they don’t want to think of you as normal.” The actress once credited walking, eating well, and avoiding cosmetic surgery as part of what keeps her going.

“That’s okay. People who do that, I’m not against it, but I chose not to, and my family said don’t ever, and I love my family and I said I never will,” said the star. She may have lived in Tinseltown — but she never let Hollywood change who she was.

From early success on screen to a quiet exit from public life, Saint carved out a career defined by talent, grace, and choice. Her dedication to both craft and family set her apart in an industry known for its fast pace and constant change.

Even as fame found her, she remained true to herself. In every stage of life, she showed that lasting success doesn’t have to come at the cost of authenticity.