Sandy Martin
Acting
Born March 3, 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sandy Martin began her acting career at the age of 15 touring the country with Martha Raye in Good-bye Charley. After several East Coast touring productions she settled in New York City. Martin began working in many of New York City's esteemed theatres: Lincoln Center, La Mama, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Horizon, The American Place Theatre acting in over 70 stage productions. After their enormous hit with the stage play, Hothouse by Megan Terry, Sandy wrote the screen adaptation which she packaged with her good friends, Amy Madigan and Ed Harris, both whom she acted with in the award winning world premiere of, Prairie Avenue by Edward Allen Baker, both in New York City. (at Est.) & Los Angeles's Callboard Theatre. Esparza/Katz Prod. quickly acquired Hothouse, and thus began a long working relationship with Moctesume Esparza and Robert Katz that lasted over ten years. Starting as a Development Executive, Sandy worked her way up to being the Associate Producer of the company, working on the critically acclaimed feature films: Milagro Bean Field Wars and Selena. She was also Associate Producer of Gettysburg for Turner and Bowl Of Beings starring the famed comedy troupe, Culture Clash for Great Performances on PBS. During her tenure with Esparza/Katz Prod., Martin wrote several treatments and screenplays; Underdogs, which was optioned by Avnet/Kerner (Risky Business, Fried Green Tomatoes), Thirteenth Duke, commissioned by Marchelo Danon (Producer of the original, La Cage aux Folles), The James Dean Story (Mini-series - Marvin Worth Prod.), she also co-wrote a musical revival of Reefer Madness with Dan Gerrity - directed by the late, great Ron Link. Martin penned Ms. Prez a screenplay that she co-authored with Patrick O'Neal about the first African American Woman President. Martin produced and directed two documentaries. The Great Meddler about the founding of the American Society for the Protection Of Cruelty To Animals) and The United Farm Workers - A Tribute to Caesar Chavez. The short, Lovely Rita, stars her friend, Cch Pounder - (The Shield) Martin was also President of Edward James Olmos's production company, Olmos Prod. at ABC for four years in early 2000. Thrilled to go back to acting, Martin was very happy to score a recurring role on HBO's drama, Big Love as the creepy he/she Selma Green, as well as the comedy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as Mac's Mom. Sandy has guest starred on numerous hit shows: CSI, Nip Tuck, Shameless, Saving Grace, Weeds, Cold Case, 2 Broke Girls, Parenthood, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles etc. She looks forward to continuing her role as Grandma from Napoleon Dynamite for Fox's animated version of the 2004 mega indie hit. She played the lead in Tennessee William's last full-length play; A House Not Meant To Stand in it's critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere at the Fountain Theatre in 2011. Her performance was nominated for an Ovation Award - Best Female Lead in 2011.
Filmography
- 2024The Invisible Raptor — Henrietta McCluckskey
- 2022Mosquito — Annie
- 2021Luca — Grandma Paguro (voice)
- 2019Dumbo — Verna
- 2018The Head Thieves — Judy Castillo
- 2017Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri — Momma Dixon
- Shooter — Adele Poole
- 2016Stars Are Already Dead — Grandma
- Playing House — Mary Pat Caruso
- 2014Some Kind of Beautiful — Susan Vale
- Transparent — Sandy
- 2013Ass Backwards — Qwen
- 2013Lovelace — Ticket Lady
- Mom — Lillian
- Ray Donovan — Sandy Patrick
- Wander Over Yonder — Dorothy (voice)
- Bravest Warriors — Dolores (voice)
- Lab Rats — Greta
- Napoleon Dynamite — Grandma (voice)
- Perception — Shirley (Homeless Woman)
- 2012Seven Psychopaths — Tommy's Mother (uncredited)
- 2012Sunset Stories — Stu
- The New Normal — Miss Pepper
- 2 Broke Girls — Ms. Pyle
- Shameless — Doctor
- Parenthood — Dog Breeder
- Rizzoli & Isles — Kendra Dee
- 2009A Very Sunny Christmas — Mrs. McDonald
- Hot Sluts — Jackie
- Make It or Break It — Marge
- 2009My Suicide — Mrs. Ellis
- 2008Lower Learning — Olympia Parpadelle
- 2008Marley & Me — Lori
- Saving Grace — Sister Laura Marie
- Big Love — Selma Greene
- The Unit — Woman with Cane
- 2005Adam & Steve — Biker Chick
- Grey's Anatomy — Sally
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia — Mac's Mom, Mrs. Mac
- My Name Is Earl — Joy's Grandma
- The Closer — Mrs. Wallingham
- Weeds — Doctor
- CSI: NY — Mrs. Collins
- Desperate Housewives — Woman
- 2004Napoleon Dynamite — Grandma
- Nip/Tuck — Helen Holden
- Without a Trace — Iris Healy
- 2001One Night at McCool's — Bingo Vendor Woman
- 2001Stranger Inside — Mrs. Johnny Cochran
- The Division — Marriage Counselor
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Office Manager, Female Trucker
- 2000Marlene — Louella Parsons
- Strong Medicine — Iris Rawlings
- 1999Jawbreaker — Nurse
- 1998Krippendorf's Tribe — Nurse
- 1998On the Line — Bartender #1
- 1998They Come at Night — Hazel
- 1997Sparkler — Ed
- 1996Female Perversions — Trudy
- Sliders — Shirley Montana
- 1994China Moon — Gun Saleswoman
- ER — Sister Helen, Mrs. Zarian
- 1994Speed — Bartender
- 1991Prison Stories: Women on the Inside — Counselor Pennell
- 1990Testing Dirty
- 1988Little Girl Lost — Violet Young
- Police Story — Mona Ramsey
- 1987Barfly — Janice
- 1987Daddy — Ultrasound Receptionist
- 1987The Gambler: The Legend Continues — Mrs. Dickey
- 1986Extremities — Officer Sudow
- Matlock — Manager
- 1986Vendetta — Kay Butler
- 1985Real Genius — Mrs. Meredith
- The Twilight Zone — (segment "Nightcrawlers")
- Hunter — Iris Balzer
- Night Court — Woman in First Row of Gallery #2, Sister Mo
- The Duck Factory — Waitress
- 1983Carpool — Peggy Ryan
- Scarecrow and Mrs. King — Nurse Chapman
- 198248 Hrs. — Policewoman
- 1982Farrell: For the People — Newswoman
- 1982One Shoe Makes it Murder — Gloria
- St. Elsewhere — Mrs. Lawson
- Falcon Crest — Criminal Institute Hospital Floor Nurse
- 1981Sizzle — Freda's Assistant
- 1981The Patricia Neal Story — 1st Woman
- 1978The Gift of Love — Jan's Mother
- 1977False Face — Sandy
- Lou Grant — Gloria Lawder