Helen Martin

Early life and education Martin was born in St. Louis and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Martin's parents wanted their daughter to become a concert pianist. During the Great Depression, Martin supported herself as a domestic worker. Martin became a Broadway character actress for many decades, debuting in 'Orchids Preferred' in 1937 and thereafter Orson Welles's production of Native Son in 1941. and ''That's My Mama. Martin portrayed a variety of grandmothers in films: Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996), I Got the Hook Up (1998), House Party 2 (1991), and Mama Doll in Bulworth'' (1998). While appearing on ''Late Night with Conan O'Brien to promote Don't Be a Menace'', Martin sent host Conan O'Brien and the audience into a frenzy with her remark, "I love reefer!" in response to a question about being cast as a pot-smoking grandmother in the film. She also said she would have been a stripper had she not gone into acting and followed her statement with a suggestive dance. Death Martin died of a heart attack on March 25, 2000, in Monterey, California, at the age of 90. ==Filmography==

• 1955 The Phenix City Story as Helen Ward • 1961 Frontiers of Faith (TV series, 1 episode) as Unknown • 1969 J.T. (TV Movie) as Mrs. Hill • 1970 Cotton Comes to Harlem as Church Sister • 1970 ''Where's Poppa?'' as Second Job Applicant • 1971 The Anderson Tapes as Minor Role (uncredited) • 1973 Big Daddy (TV Movie) as Unknown • 1973-1974 Maude (TV Series, 2 episodes) as Stella • 1974 Death Wish as Alma Lee Brown • 1974-1979 Good Times (TV Series, 7 episodes) as Wanda • 1975 ''That's My Mama'' (TV Series, 6 episodes) as Laura • 1976-1979 ''What's Happening!!'' (TV Series) as Millie / Mrs. Lloyd • 1976-1977 Sanford and Son (TV Series) as Millie / Nurse / Church Sister #1 / Lady #1 • 1977 Insight (TV Series, 1 episode) as Bessie • 1977 Starsky and Hutch (TV Series, 2 episodes) as Nellie 'Dirty Nellie' / Vivian Fellers • 1978 ''Baby, I'm Back'' (TV Series, 13 episodes) as Luzelle Carter • 1978 ''A Hero Ain't Nothin' but a Sandwich'' as Mrs. Bell • 1978 Cindy (TV Movie) as Flower Lady • 1979 Lawman Without a Gun (TV Movie) as Mrs. Cartwright • 1979 Dummy (TV Movie) as Mrs. Harrod • 1979 Better Late Than Never (TV Movie) as Unknown • 1980 The Stockard Channing Show (TV Series, 1 episode) as Maid • 1980-1981 The White Shadow as Louise / Old Woman • 1981-1983 Hill Street Blues as Neighbor / Woman Onlooker • 1982 T.J. Hooker (TV Series,1 episode) as Mrs. Sears • 1982 Wacko as Harbinger's Mother • 1983 Alice (TV Series, 1 episode) as Customer • 1983 The Jeffersons (TV Series, 1 episode) as Alice • 1983 Deal of the Century as Baptist #3 • 1984 Hardcastle and McCormick (TV Series, 1 episode) as Mrs. Prufrock • 1984 The Jerk, Too (TV Movie) as Grandma Johnson • 1984 St. Elsewhere (TV Series, 1 episode) as Elderly Lady • 1984 Repo Man as Mrs. Parks • 1984 Benson (TV Series) as Benson's Aunt Lil episode "the reunion" • 1985-1990 227 (TV Series, 116 episodes) as Pearl Shay • 1985 Amos (TV Movie) as Mrs. McKenzie • 1987 Hollywood Shuffle as Bobby's Grandmother • 1989 A Raisin in the Sun (TV Movie) as Mrs. Johnson • 1989 Full House (TV Series, 1 episode) as Shirley • 1989 Jackée (TV Series) as Pearl Shay • 1990 Night Angel as Sadie • 1990 The Flash (TV Series, 1 episode) as Sadie Grosso • 1991 A Rage in Harlem as Mrs. Canfield • 1991 Doc Hollywood as Maddie, Welcoming Committee • 1991 House Party 2 as Mrs. Deevers • 1993 The Pitch (Short) as Old Woman • 1994 Beverly Hills Cop III as Grandma • 1995 ''The Parent 'Hood'' (TV Series, 1 episode) as Ms. Morris • 1995 The Wayans Bros. (TV Series, 1 episode) as Mother Evans • 1996 ''Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood'' as Loc Dog's Grandma • 1997 Kiss the Girls as Nana Cross • 1997 ''I'm Bout It'' (V) as Mrs. Alberta • 1998 The Jamie Foxx Show (TV Series, 1 episode) as Mother Superior • 1998 ''Since You've Been Gone'' (TV Movie) as Old Lady • 1998 Bulworth as Momma Doll • 1998 I Got the Hook Up (aka I Got the Hook-Up (USA: review title)) as Grandmother • 1999 At Face Value (Short) as Miss Ella • 2000 Something to Sing About (TV Movie) as Elderly woman (final film role) ==Stage work==

• 1937: Orchids Preferred .... Evy • 1941: Native Son .... Vera Thomas • 1945: Deep Are the Roots .... Honey Turner • 1953: Take a Giant Step .... Poppy • 1960: The Long Dream .... Maude Carter • 1960: Period of Adjustment .... Susie • 1960: The Blacks .... • 1961: Purlie Victorious .... Missy Judson • 1963: My Mother, My Father and Me .... Hannah • 1965: The Amen Corner .... Sister Douglas • 1967: Something Different .... Sarah Goldfine • 1970: Purlie .... Idelia • 1973: Raisin .... Mrs. Johnson ==References==