Sandy Martin (actress)

American actress (born 1950)

Sandy Martin

Martin at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con

Occupations|

* Actress
* playwright
* director
* producer

Years active| 1965–present

Sandy Martin is an American actress, playwright, director, and producer. She is best known for her roles in the film Napoleon Dynamite and the TV series Big Love, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and Ray Donovan.

## Career[edit]

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Martin started her acting career at 15 years old; she is a founding member of several successful theatrical companies in New York City and Los Angeles. She adapted the screenplays of several theatrical plays, and served as associate producer of several TNT productions including the 1993 film Gettysburg.

Martin's television roles include playing Mickey Donovan's sister-in-law Sandy Patrick in Ray Donovan, elderly nun Sister Laura Marie on Saving Grace, a policewoman in 48 Hrs., Mrs. Meredith in Real Genius, a dying burn victim in Nip/Tuck, Janice in Barfly, and Mrs. Mac in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She appeared in the films Defenseless, China Moon, Speed, Napoleon Dynamite, Hot Tamale, and Marley & Me. Martin portrayed Grandma Dynamite in Napoleon Dynamite and in the animated TV adaptation of the film. In Marley & Me, Martin played the woman who sold Marley as "Clearance Puppy". Martin portrayed the mother of Sam Rockwell's character, Officer Dixon, in 2017's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

Martin's recent roles include portraying Verna The Secretary in Dumbo. According to Martin, she met Dumbo director Tim Burton back in the Beetlejuice days because her friend, Glenn Shadix, played Otho in the film.[1] The two reconnected after Ben Davis, director of photography for both Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Dumbo, suggested Martin to Burton for the role of Verna. Martin also voiced Grandma Paguro in the Pixar film Luca.

In the HBO series Big Love, Martin's character, Selma Green, is the sibling of polygamous cult leader Roman Grant and first wife of Grant's rival polygamous cult leader, Hollis Green. The character of Green sparked much discussion on fan forums due to their masculine gender presentation and expression, and unusual relationship with their husband (who refers to Green as "Brother Selma").[2]

## Filmography[edit]

### Film[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1977  | Scalpel | Sandy  | Film debut; Also known as: False Face
2076 Olympiad | Shiela  |
1982  | 48 Hrs. | Policewoman  |
1985  | Real Genius | Mrs. Meredith  |
1986  | Extremities | Officer Sudow  |
Vendetta | Kay Butler  |
1987  | Daddy | Ultrasound Receptionist  |
Barfly | Janice  |
1991  | Defenseless | Judge  |
1994  | China Moon | Gun Saleswoman  |
Speed | Bartender  |
1995  | Above Suspicion | Waitress  |
1996  | Female Perversions | Trudy  |
1997  | Sparkler | Ed  |
1998  | Krippendorf's Tribe | Nurse  |
They Come at Night | Hazel  |
1999  | Jawbreaker | Nurse  |
2000  | Marlene | Louella Parsons  |
2001  | One Night at McCool's | Bingo Vendor Woman  |
2004  | Napoleon Dynamite | Grandma Carlinda Dynamite  |
2005  | Adam & Steve | Biker Chick  |
2006  | Hot Tamale | Ed the Diner Cook  |
2008  | The Great Buck Howard | Female Hotel Worker  |
Lower Learning | Olympia Parpadelle  |
Marley & Me | Lori  |
2009  | Archie's Final Project | Mrs. Ellis  |
2010  | Beneath the Dark | Colleen  |
Pickin' & Grinnin' | Aunt Katie  |
2012  | Sunset Stories | Stu  |
Seven Psychopaths | Tommy's Mother  | Uncredited
2013  | Ass Backwards | Qwen  |
Lovelace | Ticket Lady  |
2014  | Some Kind of Beautiful | Susan Vale  |
2016  | Stars Are Already Dead | Grandma  |
2017  | Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri | Momma Dixon  |
2018  | The Head Thieves | Judy Castillo  |
2019  | Dumbo | Verna the Secretary  |
2021  | Luca | Grandma Paguro[3] | Voice role

### Television[edit]

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1977, 1981  | Lou Grant | Gloria Lawder / Psych-Tech  | 2 episodes
1978  | The Gift of Love | Jan's Mother  | Television film
1981  | Sizzle | Freda's Assistant
The Patricia Neal Story | 1st Woman
1982  | Farrell for the People | Newswoman
One Shoe Makes It Murder | Gloria
St. Elsewhere | Mrs. Lawson  | Episode: "Down's Syndrome"
The Greatest American Hero | Woman  | Episode: "The Resurrection of Carlini"
1982, 1984  | Hill Street Blues | Bailiff / Abigail Mizell  | 3 episodes
1983  | Carpool | Peggy Ryan  | Television film
Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Nurse Chapman  | Episode: "If Thoughts Could Kill"
1984  | Falcon Crest | Floor Nurse  | Episode: "Sport of Kings"
Matt Houston | Policewoman  | Episode: "The Secret Admirer"
1984, 1988  | Night Court | Sister Mo / Woman  | 2 episodes
1985  | Hunter | Iris Balzer  | Episode: "Sniper"
Suburban Beat | Contata  | Television film
The Twilight Zone | Lindy  | 3 episodes
1986  | If Tomorrow Comes | Gladys (guard)  | Episode #1.1
Fresno | Middle Aged Woman  | Miniseries
1987  | The Gambler III | Mrs. Dickey  | Television film
Designing Women | Hotel Manager  | Episode: "Stranded"
1988  | Santa Barbara | Betty Grayson  | Episode #1.930
Little Girl Lost | Violet Young  | Television film
Police Story: Cop Killer | Mona Ramsey
1989  | Matlock | Manager  | Episode: "The Black Widow"
1991  | Equal Justice | Advocate No. 2  | Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy"
Prison Stories: Women on the Inside | Counselor Pennell  | Television film
1993  | South of Sunset | Desk Sergeant  | Episode: "Newspaper Boy"
1994  | Models Inc. | Female Police Officer  | Episode: "Nothing Is as It Seems"
1995  | Indictment: The McMartin Trial | Deputy Phyllis  | Television film
1996, 2001  | ER | Sister Helen / Mrs. Zarian  | 2 episodes
1997  | On the Line | Bartender #1  | Television film
1999  | Sliders | Shirley Montana  | Episode: "Net Worth"
2000  | Providence | Female Minister  | Episode: "Do the Right Thing"
Time of Your Life | Vinnie  | Episode: "The Time They Found a Solution"
2001  | Stranger Inside | Mrs. Johnny Cochran  | Television film
NYPD Blue | Annie  | Episode: "In-Laws, Outlaws"
Days of Our Lives | Aunt Elsie  | 2 episodes
2001, 2007  | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Office Manager / Female Trucker
2003  | Astro Boy | Abercrombie  | English version; voice
Strong Medicine | Iris Rawlings  | Episode: "Jeaneology"
2004  | The Division | Marriage Counselor  | Episode: "As I Was Going to St. Ives..."
2005  | Without a Trace | Iris Healy  | Episode: "Transitions"
Desperate Housewives | Woman #1  | Episode: "Children Will Listen"
CSI: NY | Mrs. Collins  | Episode: "What You See Is What You See"
Nip/Tuck | Helen Holden  | Episode: "Sal Perri"
2006–present  | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Mrs. McDonald  | 13 episodes
2007  | Cold Case | Karen Watson  | Episode: "The Good-Bye Room"
Jericho | Mrs. Herbert  | Episode: "Coalition of the Willing"
Saving Grace | Sister Laura Marie  | Episode: "Is There a Scarlet Letter on My Breast?"
2007–2011  | Big Love | Selma Greene  | 10 episodes
2008  | Speed Freaks | Cop  | Television film
2009  | My Name Is Earl | Joy's Grandma  | Episode: "Darnell Outed: Part 1"
The Unit | Woman with Cane  | Episode: "The Last Nazi"
The Young and the Restless | Jimmy  | 5 episodes
Hot Sluts | Jackie  | 5 episodes
Weeds | Doctor  | Episode: "Suck 'n' Spit"
2010  | Warren the Ape | Agnes Osborn  | Episode: "Black Lotus"
2010–2011  | Svetlana | Liam  | 4 episodes
2011  | Shameless | Doctor  | Episode: "Three Boys"
2011–2013  | Good Job, Thanks! | Barbara  | 5 episodes
2012  | Napoleon Dynamite | Grandma  | 6 episodes
Make It or Break It | Marge  | Episode: "Smells Like Winner"
The Closer | Mrs. Wallingham  | Episode: "Last Rites"
The New Normal | Miss Pepper  | Episode: "Sofa's Choice"
Parenthood | Dog Breeder  | Episode: "Left Field"
2 Broke Girls | Ms. Pyle  | Episode: "And the Egg Special"
Rizzoli & Isles | Kendra Dee  | Episode: "Virtual Love"
2013  | Quick Draw | Ma Bender  | Episode: "Mail Order Bride"
Dads | Ethel  | Episode: "Dad Abuse"
2014  | Murder in the First | Sue Leonard  | Episode: "Pilot"
Perception | Shirley (Homeless Woman)  | Episode: "Shiver"
2014–2017  | Hand of God | Randy  | 10 episodes
Playing House | Mary Pat Caruso  | 6 episodes
2014–2019  | The Haves and the Have Nots | Mama Rosa  | 3 episodes
2015  | Blunt Talk | Motel Owner  | Episode: "Meth or No Meth, You Still Gotta Floss"
Transparent | Sandy  | 2 episodes
2016  | Wander Over Yonder | Dorothy  | Episode: "The Family Reunion/The Rival"
2017  | OVER & OUT | Gert  | Television film
Comrade Detective | Nikita's Landlady  | Episode: "The Invisible Hand"
2018  | Shooter | Adele Poole  | Episode: "Red Meat"
Bravest Warriors | Dolores  | Episode: "The Crowd I'm Seeing"
2018–2019  | Ray Donovan | Sandy Patrick  | 13 episodes
2020  | Big City Greens | Gertie  | Episode: "Times Circle/Super Gramma!"
2021  | Mom | Lillian  | Episode: "Vinyl Flooring and a Cartoon Bear"
2022  | Grey's Anatomy | Sally  | 2 episodes

## References[edit]

1. ^ Regev, Nir (February 14, 2019). "Sandy Martin talks Ray Donovan's Sandy Patrick (Interview)". The Natural Aristocrat.
2. ^ "Selma Greene, Who Are You?". TV Talk: Big Love. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
3. ^ "Grandma Paguro". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2022-09-10.

## External links[edit]

* Sandy Martin at IMDb
* Sandy Martin Official Website

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* Spain