Sally Bliss, born in Carthage, New York, was the daughter of a science teacher who had relocated the family from Ohio. In 1927, the family made another move, this time to Amityville, Long Island.
As a young woman, Sally attended drama school in Rhode Island, and her talents did not go unnoticed. At the age of 17, she received an invitation to Hollywood from the renowned filmmaker Howard Hughes, although it would be a year before they actually met. Sally signed with Hughes' studio and also began dating him on occasion.
As part of her contract, Hughes changed her stage name to Carla Balenda, and this is the name by which she was credited until 1957. That year, Sally decided to return to her birth name and started a new chapter in her life.
Just before her 19th birthday, Sally married a World War II pilot named John Martin, and the couple remained together for 15 years, during which time they had two sons. The marriage ended in divorce in 1959.
Six years later, Sally married prominent California attorney and author William Rutter, who encouraged her to focus on her family and leave her acting career behind. Sally devoted herself to volunteer charity work and eventually became involved in various philanthropic efforts.
Throughout her life, Sally has been blessed with a loving family, including 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. As of 2021, she resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills, California, where she continues to be involved in her community and cherish the memories of her remarkable life.
