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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.


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Born:
Jul 23, 1909 In St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
47
First Appeared:
In the movie The Phenix City Story 1955-07-19
Latest Project:
Movie Something to Sing About 2000-06-10
Known For
Poster of The Flash
Poster of Hollywood Shuffle
Poster of That's My Mama
Filmography
Movie Something to Sing About Elderly Woman 2000-06-10
Movie Bulworth Momma Doll 1998-05-15
Movie I Got the Hook-Up Grandmother 1998-05-27
Movie Kiss the Girls Nana Cross 1997-09-29
Movie Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood Loc Dog's Grandma 1996-01-12
Series The Jamie Foxx Show Unknown 1996-08-28
Series The Wayans Bros. Unknown 1995-01-11
Series The Parent 'Hood Unknown 1995-01-18
Movie Beverly Hills Cop III Grandma 1994-05-24
Movie House Party 2 Mrs. Deevers 1991-10-23
Movie Doc Hollywood Maddie, Welcoming Committee 1991-08-02
Movie Dancin' Thru the Dark Madonna 1990-03-02
Series The Flash Sadie Grosso 1990-09-20
Movie Night Angel Sadie 1990-06-02
Movie A Raisin in the Sun Mrs. Johnson 1989-02-01
Movie Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2 1988-09-24
Series Full House Shirley 1987-09-22
Movie Hollywood Shuffle Bobby's Grandmother 1987-03-20
Series 227 Pearl Shay 1985-09-14
Movie Amos Mrs. McKenzie 1985-09-29
Movie The Jerk, Too Grandma Johnson 1984-01-06
Movie Repo Man Mrs. Parks 1984-03-02
Series The Bill Unknown 1984-10-16
Series Hardcastle and McCormick Unknown 1983-09-18
Movie Deal of the Century Baptist #3 1983-11-04
Movie Wacko Harbinger's Mother 1982-11-12
Series T. J. Hooker Unknown 1982-03-13
Series St. Elsewhere Unknown 1982-10-26
Series Hill Street Blues Unknown 1981-01-15
Movie Dummy Mrs. Harrod 1979-05-27
Movie Lawman Without a Gun Mrs. Cartwright 1979-05-30
Series Benson Unknown 1979-09-13
Movie Better Late Than Never 1979-10-17
Series Baby, I'm Back 1978-01-30
Movie Cindy Flower Lady 1978-03-24
Series Roots Unknown 1977-01-23
Movie A Hero Ain't Nothin' But a Sandwich Mrs. Bell 1977-12-14
Series What's Happening!! Unknown 1976-08-05
Series The Jeffersons Unknown 1975-01-18
Series Starsky & Hutch Unknown 1975-09-10
Series Good Times Unknown 1974-02-08
Movie Death Wish Alma Lee Brown 1974-07-24
Series That's My Mama Unknown 1974-09-04
Series Sanford and Son Unknown 1972-01-14
Series Maude Unknown 1972-09-12
Movie J.T. Mrs. Hill 1969-12-13
Movie The Phenix City Story Helen Ward 1955-07-19