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Historically significant for being the first actress to sign a seven-year contract during the early days of television, Mary Sinclair's 1951 contract with CBS led her to became a staple of the one-hour drama. Frequently appearing on popular programs such a The U.S. Steel Hour and Playhouse 90, SInclair began her career as an aspiring model. Seeking the fame and fortune of the big city, Sinclair moved to New York City in 1944, where she met her future husband, Broadway producer George Abbot, in 1946. The catalyst of her career as an actress, however, was a chance encounter with CBS chairman of the board William S. Paley, eventually resulting in the contract which lead to her stardom. A divorce from Abbot soon followed, and Sinclair continued working in television and theater through the 1950s. After disappearing from the spotlight in the 1960s -- she studied painting and lived in Italy and France during the early '70s -- Sinclair relocated to Los Angeles, where she became active in local theater. Retiring to Arizona in her later years, Sinclair died in Phoenix on November 5, 2000, at the age of 78.