Martha Hart

Early life and education

Martha Joan Patterson was born on October 31, 1966, the youngest of eleven children. Her mother, Joan, battled breast cancer before Martha and her sister Virginia were born, and her father left the family when she was young. She pursued higher education at the University of Calgary, where she earned two degrees with distinction, one in Psychology and another in Sociology with first-class honours. Following her undergraduate studies, Hart moved to England to join the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge. There, under the supervision of Claire Hughes, she completed both a master's degree and a PhD in Social and Development Psychology, establishing the academic foundation for her future career in research.

Personal life and marriage to Owen Hart

Martha Hart met Owen Hart in 1982 when she was 15 years old, attending a Stampede Wrestling event with a friend. She recognized him as one of the wrestlers who had attended her school for a wrestling practice, and they began a relationship that led to marriage on July 1, 1989. The couple had two children together, Oje Edward Hart and Athena Christie Hart, before Owen's life was tragically cut short on May 23, 1999. Owen died from injuries sustained during a stunt at the World Wrestling Federation's Over the Edge pay-per-view event in Kansas City, Missouri. In her personal time, Hart writes a popular movie blog titled 'Movie Meanings, Main Messages', which explores finding meaning in life through the films we watch. She has maintained a long-standing relationship with the Monaco International Film Festival, serving as its Goodwill Ambassador in 2017 and as Vice President of the Angel Film Awards, roles that align with her personal interest in cinema.

Academic and research career

Martha Hart has built a significant career as a university researcher specializing in pediatrics and child development. She works with the University of Calgary and the Alberta Children's Hospital, where her present research includes co-creating and pilot testing the Attachment and Child Health (ATTACH) Intervention. This program explores links between parental reflective function and parent-child attachment, led by principal investigator Nicole Letourneau. Hart has presented findings on the ATTACH program at International Attachment Related Conferences in New York, London, Miami, Prague, and Vancouver. The program is funded by Harvard University's Centre for the Developing Child as one of their Frontiers of Innovation projects, and in 2019, Hart and Letourneau launched the ATTACH Program online to broaden its reach and impact.

Her past research includes extensive work at the University of Cambridge on a longitudinal project investigating the early origins of children's problem behaviour and self-esteem. This research focused on a diverse sample and examined how social correlates predict such characteristics, with specific attention to children's relationships with friends, siblings, and teachers. The study also analysed the impact of a mother's parenting style and mental states, such as self-esteem and depression, on children's social behaviour and prosocial behaviour in both single and non-single mother households. Before joining the University of Calgary, Hart worked as a researcher at Cambridge with Ruth Gaunt for several years, specifically studying the division of labour in the family and parents’ child care choices.

Hart has published various peer-reviewed papers, including a top-cited article in the 2020 to 2021 Infant Mental Health Journal on the effect of parental reflective function. She has also co-edited the academic volume 'Development and Adaptation: Seminal Papers on the Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation', published by Waterside Press, and co-authored another book titled 'Parenting and Child Development'. Her expertise is backed by extensive training in numerous attachment and interaction measures from leading institutions worldwide. She was trained to administer the PDI at Yale University and the AAI by Howard Steele and Miriam Steele at the New School University in New York, as well as by Erik Hesse and Mary Main at Berkeley University.

Further certifications include training by Howard Steele in Reflective Function (PDI), in Reflective Family Play by Dianne Philip at The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre in Toronto, and in the ABCD model of attachment with Alan Sroufe and Elizabeth Carlson at the University of Minnesota and Marinus van IJzendoorn at Cambridge. She is also trained by William Whelan in the MAC attachment measure at the University of Virginia and by Patricia Crittenden in the DMM. Hart is a certified reliable coder in various attachment measures, RF measures, and several other parent-child interaction measures, and she holds additional certification in Suicide Prevention. Her academic contributions were recognized with the University of Calgary's Eyes High Post-Doctoral Award.

The Owen Hart Foundation

In December 2000, Martha Hart announced the opening of The Owen Hart Foundation, a Calgary-based charity established with funds from her legal settlement with the WWF. The foundation's mission is to create a meaningful legacy for Owen Hart by helping people in his name, with a particular focus on education which was very important to both of them. It provides university and college scholarships for children in need, housing for low-income families, and supports various other community charities in Calgary. The foundation also conducts international outreach, including food drives, backpack giveaways, and Christmas projects for at-risk communities around the world, extending Owen's legacy globally.

Every year, Hart hosts a high-profile fundraising gala for the foundation. The events from 2000 to 2003 supported YouVille Women's Residence, a shelter for abused women. Beginning in 2004, the galas have featured notable guest performers, turning the fundraiser into a major Calgary social event. The list of celebrity headliners for the foundation's anniversary events is extensive and includes:

• Bob Newhart (2004)
• Paul Anka (2005)
• Neil Sedaka (2006)
• Bill Cosby (2007)
• Howie Mandel (2008)
• Jerry Seinfeld (2009, 10th Anniversary and again in 2020 for the 20th Anniversary)
• Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band (2010)
• Russell Brand (2011)
• Robin Williams, with special guest David Steinberg (2012)
• Steve Martin and Martin Short (2013)
• Dane Cook (2014, 15th Anniversary)
• Seth Meyers (October 2, 2015)
• Elvis Costello (December 10, 2016, 17th anniversary)
• Sarah McLachlan (December 1, 2017, 18th anniversary, honouring Canada's 150th birthday)
• Alec Baldwin (November 30, 2018, 19th anniversary)
• Russell Peters (2021, sold-out performance)

In September 2021, the foundation announced a landmark partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to honour Owen Hart's legacy within the professional wrestling community. The partnership entails AEW hosting an annual tournament called the Owen Hart Cup along with the production of Owen Hart-branded merchandise including action figures, apparel, and posters. Owen Hart is also slated to appear in a console video game being developed by AEW. At the AEW Double or Nothing event in May 2022, Martha Hart made a live appearance to congratulate the inaugural Owen Hart Cup winners, Adam Cole and Dr. Britt Baker. Prior to this, she and her children were shown on the May 11, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, though they did not appear live on television during that broadcast.

Author and public advocacy

Martha Hart authored the bestselling book 'Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart', which she began writing in 2002 and was released in 2004. The book chronicles her life with Owen from their teenage meeting through their marriage, the life they created for their two children, and the circumstances surrounding his death. It became a number one bestseller in Canada and has been published in several countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Hart has directed all proceeds from the book to charitable causes, ensuring its success directly benefits others in line with her philanthropic mission. Her public advocacy has extended to correcting media inaccuracies about her husband's death, most notably in 2014 when she wrote to CNN/HLN after host Nancy Grace's show incorrectly included Owen Hart's name in a scrolling list during a segment on wrestlers who died young from drug abuse. This prompt resulted in Nancy Grace delivering an on-air retraction and apology on April 14, 2014, specifically clarifying the mistake relating to Owen Hart.

Legal actions and disputes

Following Owen Hart's death in May 1999, Martha Hart, with the help of aviation lawyer Gary C. Robb, launched a wrongful death lawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). The lawsuit included her children and Owen's parents as plaintiffs and was settled out of court on November 2, 2000, for approximately $18 million. Hart used millions from the settlement to establish The Owen Hart Foundation and gave $2 million to Owen's parents, Stu and Helen Hart. The legal aftermath and her criticism of family members who worked against her with the WWF created a lasting rift with much of the Hart family. In the end, she remained friends with only three of Owen's ten living siblings: Keith, Wayne, and Bret Hart.

Hart has been involved in several subsequent legal cases to protect her husband's legacy and image. She sued her sister-in-law, Diana Hart-Smith, over the 2001 book 'Under the Mat: Inside Wrestling's Greatest Family', which she claimed was both slanderous and libellous. The publishers issued a public apology, had the book removed from markets, and were required to give an undisclosed amount as a donation to the Owen Hart Foundation as stated in the settlement agreement. In June 2010, Hart filed another lawsuit against Vince and Linda McMahon and WWE for wrongfully using Owen's name and likeness in numerous DVDs, for deceptive business practices, and for not paying royalty payments to Owen's estate.

On April 4, 2012, Judge Underhill agreed that Martha Hart's claims against the WWE should go forward. These claims were regarding the use of family and personal photos without her permission, which constituted copyright infringement. The claims also included breach of contract for not paying royalties from money made by the WWE from merchandise sold with Owen Hart's likeness since his death in 1999. This lawsuit was settled in April 2013. It was another instance of her legal efforts concerning the use of her late husband's image.

Awards and recognition

Martha Hart's philanthropic and community work has been recognized with several awards. In 2004, she was named Individual Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) for the charitable contributions achieved through The Owen Hart Foundation. The city of Calgary honoured her as a 2011 Champion of Learning for her advocacy and support in the field of education. In 2017, the Monaco International Film Festival, with which she has a long-standing relationship, named her its Goodwill Ambassador. She also serves as the festival's Vice President of the Angel Film Awards, and her academic contributions were previously recognized with the University of Calgary's Eyes High Post-Doctoral Award, highlighting her dual commitment to research and community service.

Questions about Martha Hart

What is Martha Hart known for?

Martha Hart is a Canadian philanthropist and researcher known for her advocacy work following the death of her husband, professional wrestler Owen Hart. She sued the World Wrestling Federation after his death and later wrote a bestselling book about his life. She founded a charity in his name called The Owen Hart Foundation. She has also worked as a university researcher in the area of pediatrics.

What does The Owen Hart Foundation do?

The Owen Hart Foundation is a Calgary-based charity that provides university and college scholarships for children in need and housing assistance for low-income families. It also supports various other community charities in Calgary and conducts international outreach projects, including food drives, backpack giveaways, and Christmas projects. The foundation raises funds through an annual high-profile gala featuring celebrity performers. In 2021, it entered a partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to host the annual Owen Hart Cup tournament and produce licensed merchandise like action figures and apparel, furthering its mission and Owen's legacy.

What is Martha Hart's educational background?

Martha Hart earned two undergraduate degrees at the University of Calgary, one in Psychology with distinction and another in Sociology with first-class honours. She then moved to England to complete both a master's degree and a PhD in Social and Development Psychology at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Family Research. Her doctoral work was supervised by Claire Hughes. This academic foundation supports her current research role in pediatrics at the University of Calgary and Alberta Children's Hospital, where she focuses on attachment and child health interventions.

What was the outcome of Martha Hart's lawsuit against the WWF?

Martha Hart's wrongful death lawsuit against the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) was settled out of court on November 2, 2000, for approximately $18 million. She used a significant portion of the settlement to establish The Owen Hart Foundation and gave $2 million to Owen Hart's parents. The lawsuit and its aftermath led to a lasting separation from most of the Hart family, though she remained on good terms with Owen's brothers Keith, Wayne, and Bret. The settlement provided the financial means for her lifelong philanthropic work.

What book did Martha Hart write and what are its proceeds used for?

Martha Hart wrote the book 'Broken Harts: The Life and Death of Owen Hart', which was published in 2004. The book details her life with Owen Hart from their meeting as teenagers through their marriage, parenthood, and his tragic death. It became a number one bestseller in Canada and has been published in several other countries including the United States and the United Kingdom. Hart has directed all proceeds from the book to charitable causes, ensuring its commercial success directly benefits the philanthropic efforts she champions through The Owen Hart Foundation.

How is Martha Hart involved with All Elite Wrestling (AEW)?

In September 2021, The Owen Hart Foundation announced a partnership with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The collaboration includes AEW hosting an annual tournament called the Owen Hart Cup and producing Owen Hart-branded merchandise such as action figures, apparel, and posters, with Owen also appearing in a future AEW video game. Martha Hart made a live appearance at the AEW Double or Nothing event in May 2022 to congratulate the tournament's first winners, Adam Cole and Dr. Britt Baker. This partnership represents a significant step in honouring her husband's legacy within professional wrestling under terms she approves.

Sources and further reading

• Martha Hart (Wikipedia)
• Martha Hart, CHILD Studies (childstudies.ca)
• Angel Film Awards Jury 2017 : Dr. Martha Hart (monacofilmfest.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-07.