Sandy Martin
Acting • Born 1949-03-03
Biography
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
91 credits
48 Hrs.
Movie • 1982
Policewoman
Sizzle
Movie • 1981
Freda's Assistant
The Patricia Neal Story
Movie • 1981
1st Woman
The Gift of Love
Movie • 1978
Jan's Mother
Napoleon Dynamite
Movie • 2004
Grandma
The Gambler: The Legend Continues
Movie • 1987
Mrs. Dickey
Marley & Me
Movie • 2008
Lori
A Very Sunny Christmas
Movie • 2009
Mrs. McDonald
Vendetta
Movie • 1986
Kay Butler
Ass Backwards
Movie • 2013
Qwen
Farrell: For the People
Movie • 1982
Newswoman
Lovelace
Movie • 2013
Ticket Lady
Sunset Stories
Movie • 2012
Stu
Female Perversions
Movie • 1996
Trudy
Real Genius
Movie • 1985
Mrs. Meredith
Little Girl Lost
Movie • 1988
Violet Young
One Night at McCool's
Movie • 2001
Bingo Vendor Woman
Stranger Inside
Movie • 2001
Mrs. Johnny Cochran
Marlene
Movie • 2000
Louella Parsons
Some Kind of Beautiful
Movie • 2015
Susan Vale
The Invisible Raptor
Movie • 2024
Henrietta McCluckskey
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Movie • 2017
Momma Dixon
Extremities
Movie • 1986
Officer Sudow
Barfly
Movie • 1987
Janice
False Face
Movie • 1977
Sandy
Speed
Movie • 1994
Bartender
Mosquito
Movie • 2022
Annie
My Suicide
Movie • 2009
Mrs. Ellis
The Head Thieves
Movie • 2018
Judy Castillo
Dumbo
Movie • 2019
Verna
Stars Are Already Dead
Movie • 2016
Grandma
One Shoe Makes it Murder
Movie • 1982
Gloria
China Moon
Movie • 1994
Gun Saleswoman
Prison Stories: Women on the Inside
Movie • 1991
Counselor Pennell
Jawbreaker
Movie • 1999
Nurse
Carpool
Movie • 1983
Peggy Ryan
Krippendorf's Tribe
Movie • 1998
Nurse
Adam & Steve
Movie • 2005
Biker Chick
Daddy
Movie • 1987
Ultrasound Receptionist
Luca
Movie • 2021
Grandma Paguro (voice)
Testing Dirty
Movie • 1990
Sparkler
Movie • 1997
Ed
They Come at Night
Movie • 1998
Hazel
Seven Psychopaths
Movie • 2012
Tommy's Mother (uncredited)
On the Line
Movie • 1998
Bartender #1
Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Woman
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
(segment "Nightcrawlers")
CSI: NY
TV • 2004
Mrs. Collins
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Office Manager
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Female Trucker
Napoleon Dynamite
TV • 2012
Grandma
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
TV • 2005
Mac's Mom
Hunter
TV • 1984
Iris Balzer
Make It or Break It
TV • 2009
Marge
Perception
TV • 2012
Shirley (Homeless Woman)
Weeds
TV • 2005
Doctor
Mom
TV • 2013
Lillian
Hot Sluts
TV • 2009
Jackie
Night Court
TV • 1984
Woman in First Row of Gallery #2
Bravest Warriors
TV • 2012
Dolores (voice)
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Sally
Lab Rats
TV • 2012
Greta
Night Court
TV • 1984
Sister Mo
ER
TV • 1994
Sister Helen
Sliders
TV • 1995
Shirley Montana
Wander Over Yonder
TV • 2013
Dorothy (voice)
My Name Is Earl
TV • 2005
Joy's Grandma
Shooter
TV • 2016
Adele Poole
Rizzoli & Isles
TV • 2010
Kendra Dee
Ray Donovan
TV • 2013
Sandy Patrick
2 Broke Girls
TV • 2011
Ms. Pyle
Without a Trace
TV • 2002
Iris Healy
Strong Medicine
TV • 2000
Iris Rawlings
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
TV • 2005
Mrs. Mac
ER
TV • 1994
Mrs. Zarian
The New Normal
TV • 2012
Miss Pepper
The Closer
TV • 2005
Mrs. Wallingham
Shameless
TV • 2011
Doctor
Falcon Crest
TV • 1981
Criminal Institute Hospital Floor Nurse
Playing House
TV • 2014
Mary Pat Caruso
The Division
TV • 2001
Marriage Counselor
Big Love
TV • 2006
Selma Greene
Nip/Tuck
TV • 2003
Helen Holden
Parenthood
TV • 2010
Dog Breeder
Transparent
TV • 2014
Sandy
Saving Grace
TV • 2007
Sister Laura Marie
St. Elsewhere
TV • 1982
Mrs. Lawson
Matlock
TV • 1986
Manager
The Duck Factory
TV • 1984
Waitress
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
Nurse Chapman
Lou Grant
TV • 1977
Gloria Lawder