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, 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. 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 her masculine gender presentation and expression, and unusual relationship with her husband (who refers to Green as "Brother Selma").

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleNotes1977ScalpelSandy Film debut; Also known as: False Face2076 OlympiadShiela198248 Hrs.Policewoman1985Real GeniusMrs. Meredith1986ExtremitiesOfficer SudowVendettaKay Butler1987DaddyUltrasound ReceptionistBarflyJanice1991DefenselessJudge1994China MoonGun SaleswomanSpeedBartender1995Above SuspicionWaitress1996Female PerversionsTrudy1997SparklerEd1998Krippendorf's TribeNurseThey Come at NightHazel1999JawbreakerNurse2000MarleneLouella Parsons2001One Night at McCool'sBingo Vendor Woman2004Napoleon DynamiteGrandma Carlinda Dynamite2005Adam & SteveBiker Chick2006Hot TamaleEd the Diner Cook2008The Great Buck HowardFemale Hotel WorkerLower LearningOlympia ParpadelleMarley & MeLori2009Archie's Final ProjectMrs. Ellis2010Beneath the DarkColleenPickin' & Grinnin''' |Aunt Katie

| rowspan="2" |2012 |Sunset Stories|Stu

|Seven Psychopaths|Tommy's Mother |Uncredited |- | rowspan="2" |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 Castillo2019DumboVerna the Secretary2021LucaGrandma PaguroVoice role

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1977, 1981Lou GrantGloria Lawder / Psych-Tech2 episodes1978The Gift of LoveJan's MotherTelevision film1981SizzleFreda's AssistantThe Patricia Neal Story1st Woman1982Farrell for the PeopleNewswomanOne Shoe Makes It MurderGloriaSt. ElsewhereMrs. LawsonEpisode: "Down's Syndrome"The Greatest American HeroWomanEpisode: "The Resurrection of Carlini"1982, 1984Hill Street BluesBailiff / Abigail Mizell3 episodes1983CarpoolPeggy RyanTelevision filmScarecrow and Mrs. KingNurse ChapmanEpisode: "If Thoughts Could Kill"1984Falcon CrestFloor NurseEpisode: "Sport of Kings"Matt HoustonPolicewomanEpisode: "The Secret Admirer"1984, 1988Night CourtSister Mo / Woman2 episodes1985HunterIris BalzerEpisode: "Sniper"Suburban BeatContataTelevision filmThe Twilight ZoneLindy3 episodes1986If Tomorrow ComesGladys (guard)Episode #1.1FresnoMiddle Aged WomanMiniseries1987The Gambler IIIMrs. DickeyTelevision filmDesigning WomenHotel ManagerEpisode: "Stranded"1988Santa BarbaraBetty GraysonEpisode #1.930Little Girl LostViolet YoungTelevision filmPolice Story: Cop KillerMona Ramsey1989MatlockManagerEpisode: "The Black Widow"1991Equal JusticeAdvocate No. 2Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy"Prison Stories: Women on the InsideCounselor PennellTelevision film1993South of SunsetDesk SergeantEpisode: "Newspaper Boy"1994Models Inc.Female Police OfficerEpisode: "Nothing Is as It Seems"1995Indictment: The McMartin TrialDeputy PhyllisTelevision film1996, 2001ERSister Helen / Mrs. Zarian2 episodes1997On the LineBartender #1Television film1999SlidersShirley MontanaEpisode: "Net Worth"2000ProvidenceFemale MinisterEpisode: "Do the Right Thing"Time of Your LifeVinnieEpisode: "The Time They Found a Solution"2001Stranger InsideMrs. Johnny CochranTelevision filmNYPD BlueAnnieEpisode: "In-Laws, Outlaws"Days of Our LivesAunt Elsie2 episodesCSI: Crime Scene InvestigationFemale TruckerEpisode: "I-15 Murders"2003Astro BoyAbercrombieEnglish version; voiceStrong MedicineIris RawlingsEpisode: "Jeaneology"2004The DivisionMarriage CounselorEpisode: "As I Was Going to St. Ives..."2005Without a TraceIris HealyEpisode: "Transitions"Desperate HousewivesWoman #1Episode: "Children Will Listen"CSI: NYMrs. CollinsEpisode: "What You See Is What You See"Nip/TuckHelen HoldenEpisode: "Sal Perri"2006–presentIt's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaMrs. McDonald16 episodes2007CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationOffice ManagerEpisode: "Sweet Jane"Cold CaseKaren WatsonEpisode: "The Good-Bye Room"JerichoMrs. HerbertEpisode: "Coalition of the Willing"Saving GraceSister Laura MarieEpisode: "Is There a Scarlet Letter on My Breast?"2007–2011Big LoveSelma Greene10 episodes2008Speed FreaksCopTelevision film2009My Name Is EarlJoy's GrandmaEpisode: "Darnell Outed: Part 1"The UnitWoman with CaneEpisode: "The Last Nazi"The Young and the RestlessJimmy5 episodesHot SlutsJackie5 episodesWeedsDoctorEpisode: "Suck 'n' Spit"2010Warren the ApeAgnes OsbornEpisode: "Black Lotus"2010–2011SvetlanaLiam4 episodes2011ShamelessDoctorEpisode: "Three Boys"2011–2013Good Job, Thanks!Barbara5 episodes2012Napoleon DynamiteGrandma6 episodesMake It or Break ItMargeEpisode: "Smells Like Winner"The CloserMrs. WallinghamEpisode: "Last Rites"The New NormalMiss PepperEpisode: "Sofa's Choice"ParenthoodDog BreederEpisode: "Left Field"2 Broke GirlsMs. PyleEpisode: "And the Egg Special"Rizzoli & IslesKendra DeeEpisode: "Virtual Love"2013Quick DrawMa BenderEpisode: "Mail Order Bride"DadsEthelEpisode: "Dad Abuse"2014Murder in the FirstSue LeonardEpisode: "Pilot"PerceptionShirley (Homeless Woman)Episode: "Shiver"Lab RatsGretaEpisode: "Which Father Knows Best2014–2017Hand of GodRandy10 episodesPlaying HouseMary Pat Caruso6 episodes2014–2019The Haves and the Have NotsMama Rosa3 episodes2015Blunt TalkMotel OwnerEpisode: "Meth or No Meth, You Still Gotta Floss"TransparentSandy2 episodes2016Wander Over YonderDorothyEpisode: "The Family Reunion/The Rival"2017OVER & OUTGertTelevision filmComrade DetectiveNikita's LandladyEpisode: "The Invisible Hand"2018ShooterAdele PooleEpisode: "Red Meat"Bravest WarriorsDoloresEpisode: "The Crowd I'm Seeing"2018–2019Ray DonovanSandy Patrick13 episodes2020Big City GreensGertieEpisode: "Times Circle/Super Gramma!"2021MomLillianEpisode: "Vinyl Flooring and a Cartoon Bear"2022Grey's AnatomySally2 episodes

References

External links

Sandy Martin Official Website