
Helen Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Helen Dorothy Martin (July 23, 1909 – March 25, 2000) was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom 227 as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl. Martin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Amanda Frankie (née Fox) and William Martin, a minister. Martin was a Broadway character actress for many decades, debuting in Orson Welles' production of Native Son in 1941. She appeared in at least a dozen Broadway shows including Jean Genet's The Blacks, Raisin from 1973 to 1975, Ossie Davis' Purlie Victorious (and later the musical version, which was called Purlie), The Amen Corner and Tennessee Williams' Period of Adjustment. She was an original member of the American Negro Theater. She first became famous later in life for her guest role as Wanda on the television series Good Times, and later as the wisecracking neighbor Pearl Shay on the television sitcom 227. She also played on the short-run sitcoms Baby, I'm Back (as mother in-law, Luzelle) and That's My Mama; as Loc Dog's grandma, Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), the matronly grandmother Mama Doll in the 1998 film Bulworth, and the no-nonsense grandmother in the film Hollywood Shuffle. Helen Martin died of a heart attack on March 25, 2000. Description above from the Wikipedia article Helen Martin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Credits
- 2000 ·Something to Sing Aboutas Elderly Woman
- 1998 ·I Got the Hook-Upas Grandmother
- 1998 ·Bulworthas Momma Doll
- 1997 ·Kiss the Girlsas Nana Cross
- 1996 ·The Jamie Foxx Showas
- 1996 ·Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hoodas Loc Dog's Grandma
- 1995 ·The Parent 'Hoodas
- 1995 ·The Wayans Bros.as Mother Evans
- 1994 ·Beverly Hills Cop IIIas Grandma
- 1991 ·House Party 2as Mrs. Deevers
- 1991 ·Doc Hollywoodas Maddie, Welcoming Committee
- 1990 ·The Flashas Sadie Grosso
- 1990 ·Night Angelas Sadie
- 1989 ·A Raisin in the Sunas Mrs. Johnson
- 1988 ·Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2as
- 1987 ·Full Houseas Shirley
- 1987 ·Hollywood Shuffleas Bobby's Grandmother
- 1985 ·Amosas Mrs. McKenzie
- 1985 ·227as Pearl Shay
- 1984 ·The Billas
- 1984 ·Repo Manas Mrs. Parks
- 1984 ·The Jerk, Tooas Grandma Johnson
- 1983 ·Deal of the Centuryas Baptist #3
- 1983 ·Hardcastle and McCormickas
- 1982 ·Wackoas Harbinger's Mother
- 1982 ·St. Elsewhereas
- 1982 ·T. J. Hookeras Mrs. Sears
- 1981 ·Hill Street Bluesas
- 1980 ·The Stockard Channing Showas
- 1979 ·Better Late Than Neveras
- 1979 ·Bensonas
- 1979 ·Lawman Without a Gunas Mrs. Cartwright
- 1979 ·Dummyas Mrs. Harrod
- 1978 ·The White Shadowas Old Woman
- 1978 ·Cindyas Flower Lady
- 1978 ·Baby, I'm Backas
- 1977 ·A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwichas Mrs. Bell
- 1976 ·What's Happening!!as
- 1975 ·Starsky & Hutchas Vivian Fellers
- 1975 ·The Jeffersonsas
- 1974 ·That's My Mamaas
- 1974 ·Death Wishas Alma Lee Brown
- 1974 ·Good Timesas
- 1972 ·Maudeas
- 1972 ·Sanford and Sonas
- 1969 ·J.T.as Mrs. Hill
- 1955 ·The Phenix City Storyas Helen Ward