An Overview

104-year-old actor-activist Marsha Hunt survived the Hollywood Blacklist to become one of Hollywood's first activists.  Miss Hunt's activism began in the early 1940s and extended into the 21st Century -- SEVEN decades of activism!  Meet Marsha Hunt and learn more here: "Marsha Hunt's Sweet Adversity" Film Trailer.

Marsha Hunt's Complete Resume of Social Activism: Please note that this also includes a partial list of awards presented to Miss Hunt throughout the years: Marsha Hunt Resume of Social Activism.

Why Marsha Hunt Should Receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom

With the passing of Olivia de Havilland and her dear friend Norman Lloyd, Marsha Hunt is the oldest living star from the Golden Age of Hollywood.  As an actor, she made many World War II-themed films while at MGM that brought much comfort to those on the homefront.  While Marsha is still among us, we'd love to see her receive this high honor for her work as an actor, songwriter, and "actorvist".

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize someone who has made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal are the highest civilian awards of the United States.  (Source: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.)  

Marsha Hunt is a living legend and national treasure highly deserving of the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

Supporting American troops remains near and dear to Marsha Hunt’s heart. Miss Hunt was a member of the Hollywood Victory Committee, where celebrities who were not serving in the military could rally together to support American troops at home and abroad. Marsha toured veterans’ hospitals in several states to meet and support wounded soldiers. When not visiting our soldiers in hospitals, Miss Hunt went on U.S. war bond tours across the United States to help raise morale and funds for military operations during the war.

The following is a summary of Marsha Hunt’s activity during World War II; 1941-1945:

Marsha Hunt served as a Hollywood Canteen hostess and captain of a team of ten volunteer hostesses throughout World War II.  Miss Hunt was in town every Saturday night (dancing with soldiers, autographing, serving snacks; 7:00 p.m. to midnight). Marsha autographed many thousands of photographs, each personally signed and made out to every requesting serviceman by name.

• Radio transcriptions to overseas troops and ships; delivering morale-boosting messages as well as dramatic readings and poetry.
• USO-Victory Committee Arctic Camp Tour (1943).
• Six-week USO tour of Alaska and Canada military bases, airfields, weather stations, and veterans’ hospitals; entertaining as a singer in a troupe of six that included Kay Francis and Reginald Gardner.
• W.A.D.C.A (Women’s Ambulance Defense Corps of America); reached the rank of Staff Sergeant.
• Taught first-aid and civilian evacuation training in the San Fernando Valley of California.
• Did photo layouts showing civilian precautions and preparedness for blackouts, etc.
• O.W.I (Office of War Information): recorded hour-long dramas in French with all French actors.
• As far back as 1955, Marsha Hunt worked tirelessly alongside her mentor Eleanor Roosevelt to support the work that the United Nations Association was accomplishing in the United States including combating hunger and homelessness.
• Marsha Hunt is the only member of the Committee for the First Amendment alive today who can talk about the trip to Washington D.C. that she and others took in October 1947 to support the “Hollywood 19”.  

Here are some additional highlights of Marsha Hunt's tireless work and dedication to causes that she felt needed attention: 

• During World War II, not only did Miss Hunt work at the Hollywood Canteen almost every Saturday night of the war for almost four years, but she also went on a four-week USO tour of the Arctic in 1943.
• Marsha Hunt was one of the first in Hollywood to host a telethon.  In 1952, Marsha co-hosted the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon, along with Ralph Edwards and Jack Webb.  They were on the air for 36 hours in Oakland California.  It became a broadcast record at the time.
• Marsha Hunt was one of the first in Hollywood to support the work of the United Nations Association and its specialized agencies.  In 1959, she produced a television documentary on World Refugee Year and got 14 of her Hollywood friends to join her on the broadcast (this was a young Paul Newman's first act of activism).
• In 1957, Marsha co-founded a teen drama workshop (with California State University Northridge professor William Schlossberg), in a tent on the young campus of Cal State Northridge. The program, "Teenage Drama Workshop" (TADW), grew over the years and is now in its 64th year of operation.
• As Honorary Mayor of Sherman Oaks, (1983 - 2000), Marsha Hunt was one of the first to recognize the growing homelessness problem in the San Fernando Valley of California.  She organized walkathons and blanket drives to help those in need.  Her crowning accomplishment as mayor helped to open one of, if not the first, homeless shelters in the Valley.  The Valley Shelter opened in 1986 in an old motel.  Thirty-five years later, the old motel has been torn down and a brand new facility stands on the site serving those in need.  Los Angeles Family Housing has successfully run this shelter and many others in greater Los Angeles since 1988.
• In 2007, at the age of 95, Miss Hunt wrote an LGBTQ anthem entitled "Here's To All Who Love" supporting "loving love", "hating hate" and marriage equality. The song has been sung at many weddings in the last 14 years.

Marsha Hunt’s life story has peaks and valleys that span the course of the 20th century.  In 1935, 17-year-old aspiring actress Marsha Hunt was discovered in Hollywood.  She signed with Paramount Pictures and went on to a flourishing career at MGM. Miss Hunt made 54 films in 17 years before a series of unfortunate events led to her being unfairly blacklisted.

Miss Hunt is the last person alive from the famous 1943 MGM Stock Company photo.  After the Hollywood Blacklist, Marsha overcame adversity and championed humanitarian causes, forging a career as one of Hollywood’s first celebrity activists.

The documentary “Marsha Hunt’s Sweet Adversity” is Miss Hunt’s “final act” of activism. The underlying theme of the film is that Marsha rose above adversity, and we can too.  The American way is to rise above adversity -- to find a way, or forge a new path forward.  

Marsha Hunt's words and deeds serve as an inspirational primer and call to action for activists of all ages. Please support our collective efforts for Marsha to receive the well-deserved honor of receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in her lifetime.  Please sign and share this petition widely and encourage everyone to do the same.  Thank you!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

‘30s star Marsha Hunt recalls supporting American troops, combating Hollywood blacklisting: ‘It was needed’: https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/marsha-hunt-american-troops-hollywood-blacklisting

Turner Classic Movies celebrating Hollywood star Marsha Hunt: https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-hollywood-28344366f321ade5ed1ca4fa0687c4b5

Tinseltown Talks column: A TCM tribute to 103-year-old Marsha Hunt: https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/11/30/tinseltown-talks-column-tcm-tribute-to-103-year-old-marsha-hunt/115072540/

Classic Hollywood: Actress Marsha Hunt survived the blacklist without apologizing for her activism: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/classichollywood/la-ca-mn-classic-hollywood-marsha-hunt-20150913-story.html

 

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