Martha Raye

Born

1916

Died

1994

From

Butte, Montana, USA·Los Angeles, California, USA

Height

1.60 m (5'3")

Also:
Actress
Writer

Credits on file

Decades active

Awards

In short · Acted for nine decades — 46 credits, 3 Presidential Medal Of Freedom wins.

Remembered for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

Recent & in release

1993
Award win
Presidential Medal Of Freedom — Presidential Medal of Freedom
1969
Award win
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award — Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
1968
Award win
Academy Awards — Oscar — Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

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Biography

Martha Raye, known as "The Big Mouth" and often compared to Bob Hope, was an American entertainer who gained widespread recognition for her comedic talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. Born Margy Reed in Butte, Montana, she was the daughter of Maybelle Hazel (Hooper) and Peter Reed, Jr., both vaudeville performers. Her ancestry included Irish, German, and English roots. Raye began her acting career before the age of 10, touring with her parents' variety show "Reed and Hopper." In her late teens, she became the lead vocalist for band-leader Paul Ash and was discovered by a Hollywood talent scout during a concert in New York City in 1934. She moved to Hollywood and started gaining prominence through a series of successful screwball comedies featuring stars such as Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, W.C. Fields, and Joe E. Brown. With the onset of World War II, Raye temporarily paused her film career to entertain U.S. military personnel through USO tours. Her commitment to supporting American troops and values earned her the affectionate nickname "Colonel Maggie." She continued her acting career into the late 1980s, appearing in films, television guest spots, and stage performances. Martha Raye died on October 19, 1994, at the age of 78, after a prolonged illness. She was buried with full military honors at the Fort Bragg Main Post Cemetery in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.