Maria Riva, the only child of legendary Hollywood actress Marlene Dietrich, has passed away at the age of 100, just weeks before her 101st birthday on December 13. A two-time Emmy nominee and accomplished actress in her own right, Riva died peacefully of natural causes on October 29 at her son Peter Riva’s home in New Mexico.

Her son, author and literary agent Peter Riva, shared a statement on behalf of the family:

“We will all miss Maria’s intelligence, advice, and depth of human understanding. The family is comforted knowing that she now goes to join her husband of 50 years, William, and her eldest son Michael, as well as her parents, Marlene and Rudi.”

Peter added,

“It is with sadness that we as a family have had to face our mother’s eventual passing, for she was always the one person we could count on — always ready with food, warmth, advice, and love, which were her truest gifts to all the lives she touched.”

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Early Life: Growing Up in the Spotlight

Born Maria Sieber in Berlin, Germany, in 1924, Riva was the daughter of Marlene Dietrich and director Rudolf Sieber. Her parents’ relationship, though romantically over at times, remained cordial. Riva spent her childhood navigating the challenges of growing up as the child of one of Hollywood’s most glamorous — and demanding — stars.

After moving to Hollywood in 1931, Riva was largely educated by governesses, enabling her to remain close to her mother. She recalled being given a uniform labeled “attendant to Miss Marlene Dietrich”, highlighting the intensity of her proximity to her mother. Despite this, Riva forged connections with prominent figures of the era, including Rosemary Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy, and appeared in several of Dietrich’s films.

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Career in Television and Acting

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Riva pursued acting and moved to New York, studying at Fordham University. She married set designer William Riva in 1947 and built a successful career in television during the early 1950s. At CBS, she became a contract player and appeared in over 500 teleplays, in addition to commercials. Her work earned her Emmy nominations in 1952 and 1953.

Riva reflected on the early television industry in a 1993 interview:

“Nobody wanted to do television… If you saw anyone on television that was famous from motion pictures, you knew their career was over. No one appeared on television unless they were finished and needed the money.”

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Personal Struggles and Triumphs

Riva endured personal challenges, including childhood trauma and early struggles with alcohol. She married Dean Goodman in 1943, divorcing a year later, and ultimately overcame her struggles with drinking. She and William Riva had four sons: Michael, Paul, Peter, and David.

Despite stepping away from acting in the 1960s to raise her family, Riva remained closely connected to her mother’s legacy. Dietrich passed away in 1992, and Riva honored her mother’s wish by publishing a biography shortly thereafter. Her work chronicled both the professional achievements and complex personal dynamics of Marlene Dietrich.

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Literary Contributions and Later Life

Riva continued to contribute to literature and historical preservation of her mother’s life and work. Among her publications were:

• A 1992 biography of Marlene Dietrich
• A 2001 book of unseen photos of Dietrich
• Edited volumes of her mother’s poetry (published 2005)
• A 25th-anniversary edition of her biography (2017)
• A novel published in 2017

She also returned to acting briefly in 1988 with the Bill Murray film Scrooged and appeared in the 2018 short All Aboard, directed by her grandson.

Riva’s husband, William Riva, died in 1999. Her eldest son Michael, a production designer, passed away in 2012.

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Legacy

Maria Riva’s life reflected the complexities of being the daughter of a Hollywood icon while forging her own path in acting, television, and literature. Her contributions as an actress, Emmy nominee, and author ensured that the stories of her family — and especially her mother — would remain preserved for generations.

Riva is survived by her three remaining sons, Peter, Paul, and David, and her lasting influence on both the entertainment industry and literary world.