Sandy Martin

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 worked in many of New York City's esteemed theatres, including Lincoln Center, La Mama, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Horizon, and The American Place Theatre, appearing in over 70 stage productions.

Following the success of the stage play *Hothouse* by Megan Terry, Martin wrote the screen adaptation, which she packaged with her friends Amy Madigan and Ed Harris, both of whom she had previously acted with in the award-winning world premiere of *Prairie Avenue* by Edward Allen Baker, staged in New York City (at EST) and Los Angeles's Callboard Theatre.

Esparza/Katz Prod. quickly acquired *Hothouse*, initiating a long working relationship with Moctesume Esparza and Robert Katz that lasted over ten years. Starting as a Development Executive, Martin advanced to Associate Producer of the company, working on the critically acclaimed feature films *Milagro Bean Field Wars* and *Selena*. She also served as Associate Producer of *Gettysburg* for Turner and *Bowl Of Beings*, starring the comedy troupe Culture Clash for Great Performances on PBS.

During her time with Esparza/Katz Prod., Martin wrote several treatments and screenplays, including *Underdogs*, which was optioned by Avnet/Kerner (producers of *Risky Business* and *Fried Green Tomatoes*), *Thirteenth Duke*, commissioned by Marchelo Danon (producer of the original *La Cage aux Folles*), and *The James Dean Story* (a mini-series produced by Marvin Worth). She also co-wrote a musical revival of *Reefer Madness* with Dan Gerrity, directed by the late Ron Link. Martin co-authored *Ms. Prez*, a screenplay about the first African American Woman President, with Patrick O'Neal.

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 film *Lovely Rita* stars her friend Cch Pounder (*The Shield*). Martin also served as President of Edward James Olmos's production company, Olmos Prod., at ABC for four years in the early 2000s.

Returning to acting, Martin landed a recurring role on HBO's drama *Big Love* as Selma Green and appeared as Mac's Mom on the comedy *It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia*. She has guest-starred on numerous hit shows, including *CSI*, *Nip/Tuck*, *Shameless*, *Saving Grace*, *Weeds*, *Cold Case*, *2 Broke Girls*, *Parenthood*, *The Closer*, and *Rizzoli & Isles*, among others. She also looks forward to continuing her role as Grandma in the Fox animated adaptation of the 2004 indie hit *Napoleon Dynamite*.

Martin played the lead in Tennessee Williams' last full-length play, *A House Not Meant to Stand*, in its critically acclaimed West Coast premiere at the Fountain Theatre in 2011. Her performance was nominated for an Ovation Award for Best Female Lead in 2011.