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Sandy Martin
Sandy Martin by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Martin at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Occupation
  • 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

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, 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. 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 transgender brother 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").

Filmography

Film

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 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 Voice role

Television

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"
2006–2021 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
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
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
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
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