Sandy Martin
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · The Invisible Raptor as Henrietta McCluckskey
- 2022 · Mosquito as Annie
- 2021 · Luca as Grandma Paguro (voice)
- 2019 · Dumbo as Verna the Secretary
- 2018 · The Head Thieves as Judy Castillo
- 2017 · Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as Mrs. Dixon
- 2016 · Shooter as Adele Poole
- 2016 · Stars Are Already Dead as Grandma
- 2015 · Some Kind of Beautiful as Susan Vale
- 2014 · Playing House as Mary Pat Caruso
- 2013 · Mom as Lillian
- 2013 · Wander Over Yonder as Dorothy (voice)
- 2013 · Lovelace as Ticket Lady
- 2013 · Ray Donovan as Sandy Patrick
- 2013 · Ass Backwards as Qwen
- 2012 · Bravest Warriors as Dolores (voice)
- 2012 · The New Normal as Miss Pepper
- 2012 · Perception as Shirley (Homeless Woman)
- 2012 · Sunset Stories as Stu
- 2012 · Lab Rats as Greta
- 2012 · Napoleon Dynamite as
- 2011 · My Suicide as Mrs. Ellis
- 2011 · 2 Broke Girls as Ms. Pyle
- 2011 · Shameless as Doctor
- 2010 · Rizzoli & Isles as Kendra Dee
- 2009 · A Very Sunny Christmas as Mrs. McDonald
- 2009 · Make It or Break It as Marge
- 2009 · Hot Sluts as Jackie
- 2008 · Marley & Me as Lori
- 2005 · My Name Is Earl as Joy's Grandma
- 2005 · Weeds as Doctor
- 2005 · It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Mac's Mom
- 2005 · It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia as Mrs. Mac
- 2005 · The Closer as Mrs. Wallingham
- 2005 · Adam & Steve as Biker Chick
- 2005 · Grey's Anatomy as Sally
- 2004 · Desperate Housewives as Woman
- 2004 · CSI: NY as Mrs. Collins
- 2004 · Napoleon Dynamite as Grandma
- 2002 · Without a Trace as Iris Healy
- 2001 · Stranger Inside as Mrs. Johnny Cochran
- 2001 · One Night at McCool's as Bingo Vendor Woman
- 2000 · CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Office Manager
- 2000 · CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Female Trucker
- 2000 · Strong Medicine as Iris Rawlings
- 2000 · Marlene as Louella Parsons
- 1999 · Jawbreaker as Nurse
- 1998 · Krippendorf's Tribe as Nurse
- 1997 · Female Perversions as Trudy
- 1995 · Sliders as Shirley Montana
- 1994 · ER as Sister Helen
- 1994 · ER as Mrs. Zarian
- 1994 · Speed as Bartender
- 1994 · China Moon as Gun Saleswoman
- 1991 · Prison Stories: Women on the Inside as Counselor Pennell
- 1988 · Little Girl Lost as Violet Young
- 1987 · The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues as Mrs. Dickey
- 1987 · Barfly as Janice
- 1987 · Daddy as Ultrasound Receptionist
- 1986 · Vendetta as Kay Butler
- 1986 · Extremities as Officer Sudow
- 1985 · The Twilight Zone as
- 1985 · Real Genius as Mrs. Meredith
- 1984 · Hunter as Iris Balzer
- 1984 · Night Court as Woman in First Row of Gallery #2
- 1984 · Night Court as Sister Mo
- 1983 · Carpool as Peggy Ryan
- 1982 · 48 Hrs. as Policewoman
- 1982 · One Shoe Makes it Murder as Gloria
- 1982 · Farrell: For the People as Newswoman
- 1981 · The Patricia Neal Story as 1st Woman
- 1981 · Falcon Crest as Criminal Institute Hospital Floor Nurse
- 1981 · Sizzle as Freda's Assistant
- 1978 · The Gift of Love as Jan's Mother
- 1977 · Scalpel as Sandy