Helen Martin

Biography: A distinguished theatrical actress and a co-founder of the American Negro Theater, Helen Martin also appeared in a few feature films beginning with The Phenix City Story (1955). Martin began her long career working with Chicago's WPA Theater in the late '30s. She joined New York City's Rose McClendon Players in 1940 and made her Broadway debut in Orson Welles' production of Native Son (1941). During the 1970s, Martin became a character actress and was a familiar face in numerous situation comedies and even had regular roles on such series as the short-lived Baby, I'm Back (1978). Since the late '80s, Martin has specialized in playing grandmothers.