Saint was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1924, and originally planned to become a teacher before pursuing acting.
She began her career in radio and television during the 1940s and early 1950s, appearing in several live television productions.
Her major breakthrough came with her 1954 film debut in On the Waterfront, where she starred opposite Marlon Brando as Edie Doyle.
Her performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1955, making her an immediate Hollywood star.
In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock cast her opposite Cary Grant in the classic thriller North by Northwest. She played Eve Kendall, one of her most famous roles.
During the 1960s, she appeared in films including Exodus, All Fall Down, The Sandpiper, Grand Prix and Loving.
Saint eventually reduced her film work so she could spend more time with her husband, television director Jeffrey Hayden, and their children.
She later continued working in television and theater, winning a Primetime Emmy Award in 1990 for People Like Us.
In 2006, she played Martha Kent, Superman’s adoptive mother, in Superman Returns.
Her final big-screen appearance was in Winter’s Tale (2014).
Saint received two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her contributions to both film and television.
She was married to Jeffrey Hayden from 1951 until his death in 2016. They had two children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Eva Marie Saint leaves behind a career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of the enduring links between classic Hollywood and modern cinema.