-
Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
-
Arthur Marks to John McEnery
Helen Martin Biography ((?)-2000)
Full name, Helen Dorothy Martin; born July 28, in St. Louis, MO; daughter ofWilliam (a minister) and Amanda Frankie (Fox) Martin.
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Female
- Birth Details
- July 28,
- St. Louis, Missouri, United States
- Death Details
- March 15, 2000
- Monterey, California
Famous Works
-
Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
- STAGE DEBUT--With the Rose McClendon Players, New York City, 1939.
- BROADWAY DEBUT--Vera Thomas, Native Son, St. James Theatre, 1941.
- Honey Turner, Deep Are the Roots, Fulton Theatre, New York City, 1945, then Wyndham's Theatre, London, 1947.
- Della, The Royal Family and Paula, The Petrified Forest, both Salt CreekTheatre, Hinsdale, IL, 1951.
- Poppy, Take a Giant Step, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1953.
- Rummy Mitchins, Major Barbara, Greenwich Mews Theatre, New York City, 1954.
- Mrs. Tancred, Juno and the Paycock, Greenwich Mews Theatre, 1955.
- Jeniella, King of Hearts, Woodstock Theatre, Woodstock, NY, 1956.
- Martha Lane, A Land Beyond the River, Greenwich Mews Theatre, 1957.
- Auntie Alice, Fever of Life, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, 1957.
- Jessie, The Ballad of Jazz Street, Greenwich Mews Theatre, 1959.
- Maude Carter, The Long Dream, Ambassador Theatre, New York City, 1960.
- Susie, Period of Adjustment, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1960.
- Felicity Trollop Pardon, The Blacks, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City,1961.
- Missy Judson, Purlie Victorious, Cort Theatre, then Longacre Theatre, both New York City, 1961.
- Essie, Critic's Choice, Colonie Theatre, Latham, NY, then Playhouse in the Park, Philadelphia, PA, both 1962.
- Hannah, My Mother, My Father, and Me, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1963.
- Adelaide Bobo, The Blacks, St. Mark's Playhouse, 1963.
- Ruby Grant, One Is a Lonely Number, Mermaid Theatre, New York City, 1964.
- Maria Pleasant, The Cat and the Canary, Stage 73, New York City, 1965.
- Sister Douglas, The Amen Corner, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York City,then Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, later Saville Theatre, London, all1965.
- Ann Hall, What Do You Really Know About Your Husband?, Shubert Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1967.
- Sarah Goldfine (understudy), Something Different, Cort Theatre, 1967.
- Rheba, You Can't Take It with You, Arena Stage, Washington, DC, 1969.
- Idella, Purlie, Broadway Theatre, then Winter Garden Theatre, both New York City, 1970, later American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New YorkCity, 1971, then Billy Rose Theatre, New York City, 1972.
- Mrs. Johnson, Raisin, Arena Stage, then 46th Street Theatre, New York City, both 1973, later Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1975.
- Sookey, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Center Theatre Group, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1983.
- Also appeared as Ruby Jackson, Striver's Row, the Maid, Three's a Family,and in Hits, Bits, and Skits (revue), all American Negro Theatre, New York City; as the Maid, Three's a Family and little girl, Mamba's Daughter, both inNew York City, 1943; in Chicken Every Sunday, Blackstone Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1944; The String, Inner City Cultural Center, Los Angeles, 1978; and in Stevedore, Off-Broadway production.
-
Credits; MAJOR TOURS
- Vera Thomas, Native Son, U.S. cities, 1941.
- Honey Turner, Deep Are the Roots, U.K. cities, 1947.
- Rheba, You Can't Take It with You, U.S. cities, 1954-55.
- Millie, Anniversary Waltz, U.S. cities, 1955.
- Adelaide Bobo, The Blacks, U.S. cities, 1963.
- Millie, Happy Anniversary, U.S. cities, 1964.
- Rheba, You Can't Take It with You, U.S. cities, 1966.
- Idella, Purlie, U.S. cities, 1971-72.
-
Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
- Helen Ward, The Phoenix City Story, Allied Artists, 1955.
- church sister, Cotton Comes to Harlem, United Artists, 1970.
- job applicant, Where's Poppa? (also known as Going Ape), United Artists,1970.
- Alma Lee Brown, Death Wish, Paramount, 1974.
- Mrs. Bell, A Hero Ain't Nothing But a Sandwich, New World, 1977.
- Baptist, Deal of the Century, Warner Brothers, 1983.
- Mrs. Parks, Repo Man, Universal, 1984.
- Bobby's grandmother, Hollywood Shuffle, Samuel Goldwyn, 1987.
- Also appeared in The Anderson Tapes, Columbia, 1971.
-
Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
- Luzelle Carter, Baby, I'm Back, CBS, 1978.
- Pearl Shay, 227, NBC, 1985--.
-
Credits; PILOTS
- Mother, Big Daddy, CBS, 1973.
- Grandma Johnson, The Jerk, Too, NBC, 1984.
- Also Wash and Dry, WNYC (New York City), 1974.
-
Credits; EPISODIC
- Laura, That's My Mama, ABC, 1974-75.
- Shirley Luskin, Full House, ABC, 1989.
- Mrs. Johnson, "A Raisin in the Sun," American Playhouse, PBS, 1989.
- Also "The Bitter Cup," Frontiers of Faith, NBC, 1960; The Nurses, CBS, 1964; The Defenders, CBS, 1964; Aunt Lil, Benson, ABC; Police Woman, NBC; Starsky and Hutch, ABC; Sanford and Son, NBC; The Jeffersons, CBS; Maude, CBS; Good Times, CBS; Hill Street Blues,NBC; St. Elsewhere, NBC.
-
Credits; MOVIES
- Flower lady, Cindy, ABC, 1978.
- Mrs. Cartwright, This Man Stands Alone (also known as Lawman Without a Gun), NBC, 1979.
- Mrs. Harrod, Dummy, CBS, 1979.
- Mrs. McKenzie, Amos, CBS, 1985.
- Also Better Late Than Never, NBC, 1979.
-
Credits; SPECIALS
- "Green Pastures," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1959.
- "J.T.," CBS Children's Hour, CBS, 1969.
- Living the Dream: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, syndicated, 1988.
-
Credits; RADIO APPEARANCES; SPECIALS
- Honey Turner, Deep Are the Roots, BBC, 1947.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: