Helen Martin
Born	Helen Dorothy Martin (1909-07-23)July 23, 1909[1] St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Died	March 25, 2000(2000-03-25) (aged 90) Monterey, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1937–2000
Known for	Wanda –Good Times Pearl Shay –227

Helen Dorothy Martin (July 23, 1909 – March 25, 2000)^[2] was an American actress ofstage and television. Martin's career spanned over 60 years, appearing first on stage and later in film and television. Martin is best known for her roles as Wanda Williams on the CBS sitcomGood Times (1974–1979) and as Pearl Shay on the NBC sitcom227 (1985–1990).

Martin was born inSt. Louis and raised inNashville, Tennessee.^[3][4] She was an only child born to a family of musicians.^[5] Martin's parents wanted their daughter to become a concert pianist.^[5] At the urging of her parents, Martin attendedFisk University for a two-year span before dropping out to embark on an acting career.^[6]During theGreat Depression, Martin supported herself as a domestic worker.^[5]

After leaving college, Martin moved to Chicago, and New York City thereafter to study acting with theWPA Theater and the Rose McClendon Players. She was a founding member of theAmerican Negro Theater inHarlem.^[7] Martin became aBroadwaycharacter actress for many decades, debuting in 'Orchids Preferred' in 1937 and thereafterOrson Welles's production ofNative Son in 1941.^[3]

Martin appeared in a dozen Broadway shows, includingJean Genet'sThe Blacks, the musicalRaisin from 1973 until 1975,Ossie Davis'sPurlie Victorious (and later the musical version, which was calledPurlie),The Amen Corner andTennessee Williams'sPeriod of Adjustment.

Martin became widely known later in life due to her roles in popular television series, which brought her a large audience. She had a recurring role as Wanda "Weeping Wanda" Williams on the television seriesGood Times, and later as the neighbor Pearl Shay on the television sitcom227, which lasted from 1985 until 1990. Martin also had a role on the short-lived sitcomsBaby, I'm Back (as mother in-law, Luzelle)^[8] andThat's My Mama. Martin portrayed a variety of grandmothers in films:Hollywood Shuffle (1987),^[9]Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996),I Got the Hook Up (1998),^[10]House Party 2 (1991), and Mama Doll inBulworth (1998).

While appearing onLate Night with Conan O'Brien to promoteDon't Be a Menace, Martin sent hostConan 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.^[11]

Martin died of a heart attack on March 25, 2000, in Monterey, California, at the age of 90.^[4]

• 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

• Helen Martin atIMDb

• 1909 births
• 2000 deaths
• Actresses from St. Louis
• American television actresses
• American film actresses
• 20th-century African-American women singers
• American musical theatre actresses
• 20th-century African-American actresses
• 20th-century American actresses
• 20th-century American singers
• 20th-century American women singers

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