Helen Martin

Infobox actor

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caption =
birthdate = birth date|1909|7|23
birthplace = St. Louis, Missouri
deathdate = death date and age|2000|3|25|1909|7|23
deathplace = Monterey, California
occupation = Stage, television actress

Helen Dorothy Martin (July 23, 1909 – March 25, 2000) was an American actress of stage and television who is perhaps most well known for her role in the sitcom "227" as Marla Gibbs' neighbor Pearl.

Martin was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Amanda Frankie (née Fox) and William Martin, a minister. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/20/Helen-Martin.html Helen Martin Biography ((?)-2000) ] ]

Martin was a Broadway character actress for many decades, debuting in Orson Welles' production of "Native Son" in 1941. She appeared in at least a dozen Broadway shows including Jean Genet's "The Blacks", "Raisin" from 1973 to 1975, Ossie Davis' "Purlie Victorious" (and later the musical version, which was called "Purlie"), "The Amen Corner" and Tennessee Williams' "Period of Adjustment". She was an original member of the American Negro Theater.

She first became famous later in life for her guest role as Wanda on the television series "Good Times", and later as the wisecracking neighbor Pearl Shay on the television sitcom "227". She also played on the short run sitcoms "Baby, I'm Back" and "That's My Mama"; as Loc Dog's grandma, "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" (1996), the matronly grandmother Mama Doll in the 1998 film "Bulworth", and the no-nonsense grandmother in the film "Hollywood Shuffle". Helen Martin died of a heart attack on March 25, 2000.

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*imdb name|0552385