Marta Heflin, Who Appeared in Robert Altman Movies, Dies at 68

Posted by Larita Shotwell on Saturday, February 17, 2024

Marta Heflin, who was associated with director Robert Altman during a stage and film career that included starring in Altman pic “A Perfect Couple” and appearing in the helmer’s Broadway and movie versions of “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” died Sept. 18 after a long illness, according to a paid obituary that appeared in the New York Times. She was 68.

In 1979 romantic comedy “A Perfect Couple,” Heflin starred opposite Paul Dooley in the story of an oddly matched pair, she a young singer and he a middle-aged Greek.

In addition to “A Perfect Couple” and 1982’s “Come Back to the Five and Dime Store, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean,” Heflin appeared in the Altman film “A Wedding.” Her final film credit was Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy” in 1982.

Heflin was born in Washington, D.C., but was part of a large Hollywood family. Her father was a PR exec and brother to golden age actor Van Heflin and to actress Frances Heflin (who played Erica Kane’s mother for more than two decades on “All My Children”), who was married to composer Sol Kaplan; Marta Heflin was also the sister of actress Mady Kaplan and director Jonathan Kaplan.

Early in her career, Heflin appeared in four Broadway musicals: “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Hair” (she was replacement as Sheila), “Soon” and Jesus Christ Superstar (she was a replacement as Mary Magdalene). In 1982 Altman directed her in “Come Back to the Five and Dime ” both on Broadway and in his film adaptation, which was released the following year.

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The actress also appeared in the noted 1980 telepic “Playing for Time,” starring Vanessa Redgrave.

Donations may be made to Animal Haven in New York.

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