Occupation Actress Years active 1955–2005 | Name Nan Martin Role Actress | |
 | ||
Children Zen Gesner, Casey Martin Dolan Grandchildren Finn Gesner, Rory Farrelly Gesner, Tuck John Gesner Movies and TV shows Similar People Zen Gesner, Harry Gesner, Larry Peerce, Cynthia Farrelly Gesner, Thomas Bezucha | ||
Nan Martin (July 15, 1927 – March 4, 2010) was an American actress who starred in movies and on television.
Contents
Early life
Born in Decatur, Illinois and raised in Santa Monica, California, she attended Santa Monica High School.
Acting career
Her first film role was The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (1956). Her other film roles included The Mugger (1958), For Love of Ivy (1968), Goodbye Columbus (1969), Doctor Detroit (1983), All of Me (1984), and Chuck Russell's cult film A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) where she played the role of Amanda Krueger, the mother of killer Freddy Krueger. Her last film role was in Thicker than Water (2005).
Martin starred on Mr. Sunshine. Other well-known roles included the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds and the soap opera Santa Barbara. She had a recurring role on The Drew Carey Show as Mrs. Lauder. She made many guest appearances on various television series, including Ben Casey, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, two episodes of The Fugitive , The Invaders, Star Trek: The Next Generation as Victoria Miller in the season 1 episode "Haven", and Rose, the secretary of murderer Alex Brady in the Columbo television movie, Murder, Smoke and Shadows. In 1965, she played co-murderer Beth Fuller in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Fatal Fortune".
She appeared on two episodes of The Golden Girls: first as the mean-spirited and nasty Frieda Claxton, who was told to drop dead by Rose Nylund, which she did. She also portrayed Philomena, a friend of Sophia Petrillo from Sicily, who claimed that Dorothy was really her daughter and not Sophia's. One month after her appearance on The Golden Girls, she appeared as Valerie's mean chain-smoking Aunt Josephine on The Hogan Family. She also briefly appeared as a cranky woman on the road in Season 1, episode 3 of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Personal life
Her first husband was musical composer Robert Emmett Dolan, whom she married on March 17, 1948; they had one son, Casey Martin Dolan. Her second husband, Harry Gesner, is the father of her younger son, actor Zen Gesner.
Death
She died Thursday, March 4, 2010, at her Malibu home. She was 82. Martin suffered from emphysema.
Filmography
Actress
2005
Mrs. Harris (TV Movie) as
Mama Tarnower
2005
Greener Mountains as
M
2005
Thicker Than Water (TV Movie) as
Abygail Jordan
2005
Las Vegas (TV Series) as
Pat Suggs
- To Protect and Serve Manicotti (2005) - Pat Suggs
2005
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (TV Series) as
Daphne Eiger
- King Baby (2005) - Daphne Eiger
2005
NYPD Blue (TV Series) as
Enid
- Old Man Quiver (2005) - Enid
2004
Father of the Pride (TV Series short)
- Donkey (2004) - (voice)
2003
Nip/Tuck (TV Series) as
Adelle Coffin
- Adelle Coffin (2003) - Adelle Coffin
2002
Dancing at the Harvest Moon (TV Movie) as
Harriet Finnigan
2002
Push, Nevada (TV Series) as
Eunice Blackwell
- Storybook Hero (2002) - Eunice Blackwell
2002
Strong Medicine (TV Series) as
Edith Strauss
- Heartbeat (2002) - Edith Strauss
2002
Six Feet Under (TV Series) as
Rita Piper
- The Plan (2002) - Rita Piper
2001
Shallow Hal as
Nurse Tanya Peeler
2001
The Agency (TV Series)
- Pilot (2001)
2001
Crossing Jordan (TV Series) as
Lydia
- The Dawn of a New Day (2001) - Lydia
2001
The Song of the Lark (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Nathanmeyer
2000
Cast Away as
Kelly's Mother
2000
The Michael Richards Show (TV Series) as
Aunt Flossie
- The Nursing Home (2000) - Aunt Flossie
2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series) as
Woman on Road
- Porno Gil (2000) - Woman on Road
2000
Gideon's Crossing (TV Series) as
Mrs. Champion
- The Gift (2000) - Mrs. Champion
2000
The Invisible Man (TV Series) as
Gloria Howard
- Impetus (2000) - Gloria Howard
2000
Forever Lulu as
Lulu Look-Alike
2000
Big Eden as
Widow Thayer
2000
Murder in the Mirror (TV Movie)
1995
The Drew Carey Show (TV Series) as
Mrs. Louder
- Drew and Kate's First Date (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew and the Gang Law (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Brotherhood of Man (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Up on the Roof (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Good Vibrations (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Tracy Bowl (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Boy Party/Girl Party (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- A House Divided (1999) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew's New Car (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- Nicki's Wedding (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew Between the Rock and a Hard Place (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- In Ramada Da Vida (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- From the Earth to the Moon (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew's Cousin (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- The Sex Drug (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- The Salon (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- Mr. Louder's Birthday Party (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- He Harassed Me, He Harassed Me Not (1998) - Mrs. Louder
- Volunteer (1997) - Mrs. Louder
- Strange Bedfellows (1997) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew vs. Mimi: Part 2 (1997) - Mrs. Louder
- Man's Best Same Sex Companion (1997) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew Blows His Promotion (1997) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew Gets Motivated (1996) - Mrs. Louder
- Drew and Mrs. Louder (1995) - Mrs. Louder
1998
Profiler (TV Series) as
Rose Fraley
- Perfect Helen (1998) - Rose Fraley
1997
Suddenly Susan (TV Series) as
Grandma Richmond
- The Thanksgiving Episode (1998) - Grandma Richmond
- What a Card (1997) - Grandma Richmond
1998
Maximum Bob (TV Series) as
President of the Daughters of Stars and Bars
- Good Dog Karl (1998) - President of the Daughters of Stars and Bars
1998
The Practice (TV Series) as
Judge Lydia Winchell
- In Deep (1998) - Judge Lydia Winchell
1997
The Song of the Lark (Short) as
Mrs. Nathanmeyer
1997
Chicago Hope (TV Series) as
Mrs. Mankiewicz
- The Adventures of Baron Von Munchausen- by Proxy (1997) - Mrs. Mankiewicz
1997
ER (TV Series) as
Mrs. Curwane
- One More for the Road (1997) - Mrs. Curwane
1996
Terror in the Family (TV Movie) as
Ivy
1995
Sisters (TV Series) as
Marjorie Markham
- Renaissance Woman (1995) - Marjorie Markham
1995
Last Gasp as
Mrs. Hardwick
1995
The 5 Mrs. Buchanans (TV Series) as
Nana Buchanan
- Becoming a Buchanan (1995) - Nana Buchanan
1994
Monty (TV Series) as
Lois
- The Brother of the Bride (1994) - Lois
1993
Harts of the West (TV Series) as
Beverly
- Jake's Brother (1993) - Beverly
1993
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (TV Series) as
Lil Swill
- Mail Order Brides (1993) - Lil Swill
1993
Baywatch (TV Series) as
Dick's Wife
- The Child Inside (1993) - Dick's Wife
1991
The Pirates of Dark Water (TV Series) as
Additional Voices
- The Living Treasure (1993) - (voice)
- The Soul Stealer (1993) - (voice)
- Sister of the Sword (1993) - (voice)
- The Pandawa Plague (1993) - (voice)
- The Game Players of Undaar (1992) - (voice)
- The Dagron Master (1992) - (voice)
- The Ghost Pirates (1992) - (voice)
- The Dark Disciples (1992) - (voice)
- Break Up (1991) - Additional Voices (voice)
1993
Mother of the Bride (TV Movie) as
Beatrice Miller
1991
Harry and the Hendersons (TV Series) as
Dr. Arnesen
- The Old Bigfoot (1992) - Dr. Arnesen
- The Mentor (1991)
1992
Child of Rage (TV Movie) as
Barbara
1992
Santa Barbara (TV Series) as
Abigail Beckwithe
1991
Charlie Hoover (TV Series) as
Marge
- Mother-in-Law (1991) - Marge
1991
A Woman Named Jackie (TV Mini Series) as
Diana Vreeland
- The Onassis Years (1991) - Diana Vreeland
- The Kennedy Years (1991) - Diana Vreeland
1990
Matters of the Heart (TV Movie)
1990
Over My Dead Body (TV Series) as
Rose Haversham
- No Ifs, Ands or Butlers (1990) - Rose Haversham
1990
Father Dowling Mysteries (TV Series) as
Mrs. Dansky
- The Ghost of a Chance Mystery (1990) - Mrs. Dansky
1989
Major Dad (TV Series) as
Miss Shields
- Boxer Rebellion (1989) - Miss Shields
1988
Fantastic Max (TV Series) as
Additional Voices
- Boo Who? (1989) - Additional Voices (voice)
- Cooking Mother's Goose (1988) - Additional Voices (voice)
- The Loon in the Moon (1988) - Additional Voices (voice)
1989
Animal Behavior as
Mrs. Norton
1986
The Golden Girls (TV Series) as
Philomena Bosco / Frieda Claxton
- Foreign Exchange (1989) - Philomena Bosco
- It's a Miserable Life (1986) - Frieda Claxton
1989
Murder, Smoke and Shadows (TV Movie) as
Rose Walker
1986
My Sister Sam (TV Series) as
Aunt Elsie
- Patti, I Have a Feeling We're Not in Oregon Anymore (1988) - Aunt Elsie
- The Aunt Elsie Crisis: Day One (1986) - Aunt Elsie
1988
CBS Summer Playhouse (TV Series) as
Arabia Vanderway Porter
- Old Money (1988) - Arabia Vanderway Porter
1988
L.A. Law (TV Series) as
Hazel Brackman
- The Bald Ones (1988) - Hazel Brackman
1987
Frank's Place (TV Series) as
Mrs. Weisberger
- Season's Greetings (1987) - Mrs. Weisberger
1987
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV Series) as
Victoria Miller
- Haven (1987) - Victoria Miller
1987
Buck James (TV Series) as
Helen Gallagher
- Too Close to Home (1987) - Helen Gallagher
1987
Proud Men (TV Movie) as
Laura
1987
Home Fires (TV Movie) as
The Judge
1987
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors as
Nun
1986
Valerie (TV Series) as
Aunt Josephine
- One of a Kind (1986) - Aunt Josephine
1985
The Twilight Zone (TV Series) as
Margaret's Mother (segment "A Saucer of Loneliness") / First Nun (segment "If She Dies")
- The Once and Future King/A Saucer of Loneliness (1986) - Margaret's Mother (segment "A Saucer of Loneliness")
- If She Dies/Ye Gods (1985) - First Nun (segment "If She Dies")
1986
Mr. Sunshine (TV Series) as
Grace D'Angelo
- Take My Ex-Wife Please! (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Great Expectations (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Leftwich in Love (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Fear of Falling (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Too Many Cooks (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- The Theatre Calls Grace (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Strictly Personal (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Educating Swinford (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- The Evaluation (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Mrs. Swinford Takes the Plunge (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
- Pilot (1986) - Grace D'Angelo
1984
All of Me as
Divorce Lawyer
1983
The Winter of Our Discontent (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Baker
1983
Doctor Detroit as
Margaret Skridlow
1983
The Thorn Birds (TV Mini Series) as
Sister Agatha
- Part 1 (1983) - Sister Agatha
1983
I Take These Men (TV Movie) as
Doris
1982
St. Elsewhere (TV Series) as
Mrs. Stevenson
- Tweety and Ralph (1982) - Mrs. Stevenson
1982
Richard II (Video) as
Duchess of York
1982
Some Kind of Hero as
Hilda
1982
Prime Suspect (TV Movie) as
Sonia Lindstrom
1975
Insight (TV Series) as
Dr. Gersten / Elaine Ritter / Emma
- The Needle's Eye (1981) - Dr. Gersten
- All Out (1976) - Elaine Ritter
- Welcome Home (1975) - Emma
1981
Dear Teacher (TV Movie) as
Karen Lipner
1981
Hart to Hart (TV Series) as
Edith Tannen, R.N.
- Operation Murder (1981) - Edith Tannen, R.N.
1980
Loving Couples as
Walter's Nurse
1980
A Small Circle of Friends as
Mrs. Baxter
1980
The Golden Honeymoon (TV Movie) as
Cora Hartsell
1979
Angie (TV Series) as
Aunt Cooper
- Family Feud (1979) - Aunt Cooper
1979
Family (TV Series) as
Virgina Kabel
- Thanksgiving (1979) - Virgina Kabel
1979
Mrs. R's Daughter (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Bergson
1979
The Runaways (TV Series) as
Helen Rossmore
- Throwaway Child (1979) - Helen Rossmore
1978
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (TV Movie) as
Aunt Isabel
1978
Outside Chance (TV Movie) as
Allison
1978
The Other Side of the Mountain: Part II as
June Kinmont
1977
A Circle of Children (TV Movie) as
Doris Fleming
1976
Visions (TV Series) as
Mrs. Gregg / Annie
- The Gardener's Son (1977) - Mrs. Gregg
- The War Widow (1976) - Annie
1976
Number One (Short) as
Teacher
1976
Jackson County Jail as
Allison
1975
Ellery Queen (TV Series) as
Olivia Burns
- The Adventure of Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance (1975) - Olivia Burns
1975
The Other Side of the Mountain as
June Kinmont
1974
Remember When (TV Movie) as
Annie Hodges
1974
The Wide World of Mystery (TV Series) as
Catherine
- The Book of Murder (1974) - Catherine
1973
The Streets of San Francisco (TV Series) as
Prof. Talmadge
- Most Feared in the Jungle (1973) - Prof. Talmadge
1973
Room 222 (TV Series) as
Marie Clark
- Can Nun Be One Too Many? (1973) - Marie Clark
1972
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (TV Series) as
Mrs. Holden / Beatrice Cohen
- The Pool House (1973) - Mrs. Holden
- Murder in the Abstract (1972) - Beatrice Cohen
1973
The Young Nurses as
Woman Reporter
1972
The Sixth Sense (TV Series) as
Dora Hallam
- Witness Within (1972) - Dora Hallam
1969
The F.B.I. (TV Series) as
Eleanor Garnett / Susan Crane
- The Hunters (1972)
- Scapegoat (1969) - Eleanor Garnett
- The Fraud (1969) - Susan Crane
1971
Longstreet (TV Series) as
Mrs. Franklin
- The Girl with the Broom (1971) - Mrs. Franklin
1971
The Young Lawyers (TV Series) as
Elsa Novak
- And the Walls Came Tumbling Down (1971) - Elsa Novak
1971
Bewitched (TV Series) as
Martha Berkley
- Samantha and the Troll (1971) - Martha Berkley
1970
Lancer (TV Series) as
Lizzie Cramer
- Goodbye, Lizzie (1970) - Lizzie Cramer
1970
Mission: Impossible (TV Series) as
Grand Duchess Teresa
- The Choice (1970) - Grand Duchess Teresa
1969
Medical Center (TV Series) as
Anne Filbey
- The Crooked Circle (1969) - Anne Filbey
1969
Goodbye, Columbus as
Mrs. Ben Patimkin
1969
Mannix (TV Series) as
Frances Jordan
- Odds Against Donald Jordan (1969) - Frances Jordan
1969
Mod Squad (TV Series) as
Mrs. Barnes
- Hello Mother, My Name Is Julie (1969) - Mrs. Barnes
1968
Three in the Attic as
Dean Florence Nazarin
1968
For Love of Ivy as
Doris Austin
1967
The Invaders (TV Series) as
Dr. Maria McKinley
- Valley of the Shadow (1967) - Dr. Maria McKinley
1966
The Trials of O'Brien (TV Series) as
Margo
- Alarums and Excursions (1966) - Margo
1965
Perry Mason (TV Series) as
Beth Fuller
- The Case of the Fatal Fortune (1965) - Beth Fuller
1965
The Art of Love as
Margo (as Nancy Martin)
1965
Bus Riley's Back in Town as
Mrs. Nichols
1964
Hamlet as
Gertrude
1964
The Fugitive (TV Series) as
Congresswoman Marian Snell / Paula Decker
- The Iron Maiden (1964) - Congresswoman Marian Snell
- Search in a Windy City (1964) - Paula Decker
1964
The Reporter (TV Series) as
Irene
- Rope's End (1964) - Irene
1963
The Defenders (TV Series) as
Grave Havelock
- Climate of Evil (1963) - Grave Havelock
1963
Toys in the Attic as
Charlotte Warkins (uncredited)
1963
The Twilight Zone (TV Series) as
Laura Ford
- The Incredible World of Horace Ford (1963) - Laura Ford
1963
The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) as
Sophie Clayton
- Where Ignorant Armies Clash (1963) - Sophie Clayton
1962
The Untouchables (TV Series) as
Stella Kurtz
- Bird in the Hand (1962) - Stella Kurtz
1962
The United States Steel Hour (TV Series)
- Night of the Fourth (1962)
1962
Ben Casey (TV Series) as
Liza Bowers
- All the Clocks Are Ticking (1962) - Liza Bowers
1962
The New Breed (TV Series) as
Margaret
- Wings for a Plush Horse (1962) - Margaret
1960
Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Lady Percy
- Henry IV (1960) - Lady Percy
1960
Moment of Fear (TV Series)
- Finger of Death (1960)
1959
Sunday Showcase (TV Series) as
Nancy
- People Kill People Sometimes (1959) - Nancy
1958
The Mugger as
Claire Townsend
1957
The Buster Keaton Story as
Edna - Larry's Secretary
1957
Robert Montgomery Presents (TV Series)
- Victoria Regina (1957)
1956
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit as
Polly Lawrence (uncredited)
1955
Studio 57 (TV Series)
- Center Ring (1955)
1953
Hollywood Opening Night (TV Series)
- My Boss and I (1953)
1952
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series)
- I Want to Be a Movie Star (1952)
Make Up Department
1996
Ed's Next Move (hair assistant - as Nancy Martin) / (makeup assistant - as Nancy Martin)
Thanks
2010
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (Video documentary) (dedicated in loving memory of)
Self
1956
Eames Lounge Chair (Documentary short)
Archive Footage
2010
Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (Video documentary) as
Self (uncredited)
References
Nan Martin Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA