Andrea Martin
Andrea Martin is an acclaimed American and Canadian actress, comedian, and writer, celebrated for her groundbreaking work on the sketch comedy series SCTV. Her career spans over five decades, encompassing notable film roles, award-winning Broadway performances, and prolific voice acting in animation. A key figure in Canadian comedy, she has been honoured with multiple Tony and Emmy Awards, and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 2018. Martin's enduring versatility and comedic brilliance have made her a beloved and influential presence in North American entertainment.
Early life and family background
Andrea Louise Martin was born on January 15, 1947, in Portland, Maine, the eldest of three children of Armenian-American parents Sybil and John Papazian Martin. Her paternal grandparents had escaped the Armenian Genocide, fleeing from Van in present-day Turkey, and her paternal grandfather, an amateur thespian, changed the family's name from Papazian to Martin. Her maternal grandparents, who were from Constantinople, started the Armenian School at the Chestnut Street Church in Portland. Her father owned a grocery-store chain called Martin's Foods, and the family worked to assimilate into American culture, which led Martin to connect more deeply with her Armenian ancestry later in life. Her early exposure to performance came from her mother, who read Shakespeare, Paul Revere's Ride, and Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven to her during her recovery from a broken leg when Martin was two years old.
Martin's formal education began at Nathan Clifford School before she transferred to St. Joseph's Academy and later attended Deering High School. She graduated from Deering High in 1965, where she was an active member of the Dramatic Club and was crowned Miss Deering High that same year. Her early artistic pursuits included piano lessons from the age of eight, and she performed a recital at the rotunda of the Portland Museum of Art, reciting a poem about a kitten and playing the piano. These formative experiences in Maine laid the groundwork for her future career in the performing arts, fostering a love for literature, music, and theatre that would define her professional life.
Rise to prominence with SCTV and early career
After winning a role in a touring production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Andrea Martin relocated from New York City to Toronto in 1970 and immediately found steady work in Canadian television, film, and theatre. A significant early role came in 1972 when she played Robin in a Toronto production of Godspell, a company that included future stars Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, and Victor Garber, with musical director Paul Shaffer. Her early film roles were in horror, including 1973's Cannibal Girls, directed by Ivan Reitman, for which she won the Sitges Film Festival Award for Best Actress, and the 1974 Canadian classic Black Christmas. This early success in genre films demonstrated her range and prepared her for the ensemble work that would follow.
In 1976, Martin joined the cast of the seminal Canadian sketch comedy series Second City Television (SCTV), working alongside then-unknown talents like John Candy, Dave Thomas, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, and Joe Flaherty. Set at the fictional Melonville television station, the show became a cultural touchstone. Martin created an array of memorable characters, most notably the leopard print-clad, perpetually flustered station manager Edith Prickley, whose dealings with staff like president Guy Caballero and newscaster Earl Camembert provided much of the show's humour. Her other SCTV personas included the Eastern European immigrant Pirini Scleroso, organ saleswoman Edna Boil, feminist host Libby Wolfson, and children's entertainer Mrs. Falbo. Martin also delivered parodies of public figures including Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray, Ethel Merman, Pauline Kael, Sophia Loren, Mother Teresa, Joni Mitchell, and Indira Gandhi. Her work on the series earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety Show in 1981, and she later won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program in 1982 and 1983 for her writing contributions to SCTV.
Notable SCTV characters and impersonations by Andrea Martin:- Edith Prickley, the station manager
- Pirini Scleroso, an Eastern European immigrant
- Edna Boil, the organ saleswoman
- Libby Wolfson, a feminist television host
- Mrs. Falbo, a children's entertainer (later adapted for Sesame Street)
- Impersonations of Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray, Indira Gandhi, Joni Mitchell, Liza Minnelli, and Patti Smith
Her involvement with SCTV was rooted in her earlier work with the Toronto branch of the improvisational comedy troupe The Second City, a group that produced almost the entire cast of the television series. She joined SCTV in 1976 alongside then-unknowns like John Candy and Catherine O'Hara. On the show, she most notably portrayed leopard print-wearing station manager Edith Prickley and many other memorable characters. Her talent for impersonation was key in her humorous portrayals of figures like Barbra Streisand and Indira Gandhi. For her work on SCTV, she was Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Variety Show in 1981.
Award-winning Broadway career and stage work
Andrea Martin's stage career is marked by critical acclaim and major awards, particularly on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in 1992 in the musical My Favorite Year, for which she won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Theatre World Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. This triumph established her as a formidable theatrical talent. She subsequently earned Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her roles in Candide (1997), Oklahoma! (2002), and Young Frankenstein (2007). With five nominations in this category, she holds the record for the most Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in the award's history.
Her theatrical versatility extends beyond musicals. In 2009, she starred alongside Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon in the Broadway revival of Exit the King, earning Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations for her performance as Juliette. She wrote and performed the one-woman show Nude, Nude, Totally Nude in Los Angeles and New York City in 1996, winning a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One Person Show. Other theatre credits include leading roles in The Rose Tattoo and Betty's Summer Vacation at Boston's Huntington Theatre, the latter earning her the Elliot Norton Award for Best Actress.
A career highlight came with the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin, in which she originated the role of Berthe, Pippin's grandmother, at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts before the production transferred to Broadway. Singing the song "No Time At All," she won her second Tony Award, along with the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her final performance in that Broadway run was on September 22, 2013. In 2014, she appeared on Broadway in James Lapine's Act One, receiving an Outer Critics Circle Award. In 2016, she earned her first Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her performance as Dotty Otley in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Noises Off. She continues to tour her one-woman show, Andrea Martin: Final Days, Everything Must Go! with musical director Seth Rudetsky.
Selected Broadway credits and awards:- My Favorite Year (1992), Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Theatre World Award
- Candide (1997), Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
- Oklahoma! (2002), Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
- Exit the King (2009), Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations
- Young Frankenstein (2007), Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
- Pippin (2013), Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award
- Act One (2014), Outer Critics Circle Award
- Noises Off (2016), Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play
Film, television, and extensive voice work
Beyond SCTV and the stage, Andrea Martin has built an extensive and varied screen career. Her film roles range from early horror to major studio comedies. She is widely recognized for her role as Aunt Voula in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding film franchise, reprising the character in the 2016 sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the 2023 sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, and the television series adaptation My Big Fat Greek Life . She also played Helaine in the 2009 independent film Breaking Upwards and appeared in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014) and Little Italy (2018).
On television, Martin has been a consistent presence for decades. She played Wanda Falbo the Word Fairy on Sesame Street beginning in 1989, a character derived from her SCTV persona Mrs. Falbo. She appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as one of two actresses to play Ishka, Quark's mother. She starred in the television series Life... and Stuff in 1997 and played Prudy Pingleton in Hairspray Live! in 2016. She has had guest roles on numerous series including Nurse Jackie (2009), 30 Rock (2012), American Dad! (2012), Working the Engels, Difficult People (2015), and the Canadian series Working the Engels .
Martin has been a prolific voice actress in animation, contributing to films like Anastasia (1997), The Rugrats Movie (1998), and Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001). She has also done considerable voice work in animated television productions such as The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Rugrats, and The Simpsons. Other series featuring her voice work include Recess, The New Woody Woodpecker Show, Earthworm Jim, Kim Possible, The Buzz on Maggie, and SpongeBob SquarePants. She also appeared in the 1993 television adaptation of Gypsy starring Bette Midler.
| Medium | Selected Notable Works | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Film | My Big Fat Greek Wedding (franchise), Black Christmas (1974 & 2006), Wag the Dog | 2002 to 2023, 1974/2006, 1997 |
| Voice Acting | Anastasia, The Rugrats Movie, The Simpsons, SpongeBob SquarePants | 1997, 1998, various, various |
| Television Specials | Hairspray Live!, Gypsy (1993 TV adaptation) | 2016, 1993 |
Her recent projects illustrate her continued relevance. She co-starred in the supernatural drama series Evil from 2021 to 2024. She plays a recurring role on Only Murders in the Building as of 2021. In 2024, she appeared on Broadway in the Lincoln Center production of Ayad Akhtar's McNeal, along with Robert Downey Jr. She also previously appeared in Hulu's original series Difficult People and the NBC sitcom Working the Engels.
Personal life, citizenship, and public engagement
Andrea Martin divides her time between Los Angeles and Toronto. In 2017, she formally became a Canadian citizen, solidifying her long-standing connection to the country where her career flourished. She was previously married to writer and director Bob Dolman, with whom she has two sons, Joe and Jack. Through this marriage, she became the sister-in-law of comedian Martin Short, who is married to Dolman's sister, Nancy. Martin is a grandmother via her elder son, and her family life remains a private aspect of her public persona. She is actively involved with Armenian cultural and charitable causes, frequently attending the annual Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) benefit alongside friend Tina Fey to raise money for impoverished children in Armenia.
She has cited an Armenian-Greek kinship that she felt on the set of Hulu's Difficult People as a foundation for her close friendship with Tina Fey. Martin only connected with her Armenian ancestry later in life, moving beyond the assimilation efforts of her parents' generation. In 2019, Martin was set to perform on Broadway opposite Nathan Lane in the world premiere of Taylor Mac's new comedy Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus. On March 4, 2019, she withdrew from the production, having broken four ribs in an accident during rehearsal.
Honours, publications, and legacy
Andrea Martin's contributions to entertainment have been recognized with numerous honours. In 2018, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame alongside fellow Canadians Seth Rogen and Leonard Cohen. This accolade celebrates her significant impact on Canadian culture, particularly through her foundational work on SCTV. Her award tally includes two Tony Awards, two Emmy Awards, three Drama Desk Awards, an Outer Critics Circle Award, a Theatre World Award, and the Elliot Norton Award. She also won the Sitges Film Festival Award for Best Actress for Cannibal Girls in 1973.
She published a memoir titled Andrea Martin's Lady Parts in 2014 through HarperCollins, with the ISBN 978-0062387288. The book offers a humorous and insightful look at her life and career, reflecting the same wit that characterizes her performances. These honours and her literary contribution cement her legacy not only as a performer but as a cultural figure whose work has resonated across generations and borders. Her record five Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical is a unique achievement in American theatre, while her dual citizenship and induction into Canada's Walk of Fame affirm her integral role in the development of a modern Canadian comedic identity.
Questions about Andrea Martin
How many Tony Awards has Andrea Martin won?
Andrea Martin has won two Tony Awards. Her first was for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her Broadway debut in My Favorite Year in 1992. She won her second Tony in the same category for her performance as Berthe in the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin. She holds the record for the most Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, with five nominations in total.
What was Andrea Martin's role on SCTV?
On SCTV, Andrea Martin was a core cast member and writer, renowned for creating a host of memorable characters. Her most famous creation was the leopard print-wearing, high-strung station manager Edith Prickley. She also played characters like the Eastern European immigrant Pirini Scleroso, organ saleswoman Edna Boil, and children's entertainer Mrs. Falbo. Her talent for impersonations included parodies of Barbra Streisand, Anne Murray, and Indira Gandhi.
What is Andrea Martin best known for?
Andrea Martin is best known for her work on the Canadian sketch comedy television series SCTV. On SCTV, she notably portrayed leopard print wearing station manager Edith Prickley and other memorable characters like Pirini Scleroso and Mrs Falbo. She is also widely recognized for her role as Aunt Voula in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding film franchise. She has had a prolific theatre career, winning Tony Awards for both My Favorite Year and the 2013 revival of Pippin. Her talent extends to voice acting in productions like Anastasia and The Rugrats Movie.
Is Andrea Martin Canadian?
Yes, Andrea Martin is both an American and Canadian actress and comedian. She became a Canadian citizen in 2017. She divides her time between Los Angeles and Toronto. In 2018, she was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame alongside fellow Canadians Seth Rogen and Leonard Cohen. Her career has strong Canadian roots, having relocated to Toronto in 1970 and finding steady work there in television, film and theatre.
What recent TV shows has Andrea Martin been in?
From 2021 to 2024, Andrea Martin co starred in the supernatural drama series Evil. As of 2021, she also plays a recurring role on the series Only Murders in the Building. Prior to these, she appeared in Hulu's original series Difficult People, which premiered in 2015. She also had a guest role in a 2012 episode of 30 Rock titled 'My Whole Life Is Thunder'.
Did Andrea Martin write a book?
Yes, Andrea Martin published a memoir. The book is titled Andrea Martin's Lady Parts and was published in 2014 by Harper. This published work details aspects of her life and career. The book adds to her creative accomplishments beyond her acting and comedy work.
Sources and further reading
- Andrea Martin (Wikipedia)
- Andrea Martin (secondcity.com)
- Andrea Martin Biography | Broadway Buzz (broadway.com)
- Andrea Martin Movies & TV Shows List (rottentomatoes.com)
- Andrea Martin (broadwaypodcastnetwork.com)
Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-05.
