1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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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.