Actress, Helen Martin, Was Born Dorothy Martin, On July, 23, 1909, In St. Louis Missouri. She Was Reared In Nashville, Tennessee.
She Is Best Known As A Character Actress For Her Roles On Various Television Sitcoms During The 1970s, 1980s And 1990s. In 1973, She Was Cast In The Television Comedy,"That's My Momma" And Had A Recurring Role As (Weeping) Wanda On CBS' Hit Show, "Good Times." She Also Appeared In "Baby I'm Back" During The 1990s. Martin Is Probably Best Remembered As Pearl, The Little Old Lady Next Door In Marla Gibbs' Mid-1980s Television Series, "227."
Her Big Screen Film Credits Include Beverly Hills Cop III, Hollywood Shuffle, Night Angel, I Got The Hook Up, House Party 2, Rage In Harlem, Bulworth And Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood. In Many Of These Films She Played The "Feisty Grandmother," A Character She Popularized During Her Long Career In TV And Movies.
While She May Be Most Recognized For Her Work In Television And Film, Helen Martin Worked Primarily As A Stage Actress During Her Early Career. She Was An Original Member Of Harlem's American Negro Theater And One Of The First Black Actresses To Appear On Broadway When In 1941, She Was Cast By Orson Welles, In His Production Of "Native Son." She Appeared In At Least A Dozen Other Broadway Shows, Including: Jean Genet's "The Blacks," Raisin (1973 to 1975), Ossie Davis' "Purlie Victorious (And The Later Musical Version, "Purlie")," "The Amen Corner" And Tennessee Williams' "Period of Adjustment."
Helen Martin Died Of A Heart Attack In Monterey, California, On March 25, 2000.
A LOOK BACK AT HELEN MARTIN
"In Order For Black History To Live, We Must Continue To Breathe Life Into It." -- Hubert Gaddy, Jr.
The BLACK IN TIME ONLINE RESOURCE CENTER FOR BLACK HISTORY & CULTURE
I first saw her as Wandy and did I love her in this role. Thanks for giving her history, Gaddy. It makes her more than just the TV character I knew her as only until now. (smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA
