'Drew Carey' Actress Nan Martin Dies at 82

By PopEater Staff Posted Mar 9th 2010 11:31AM

Versatile actress Nan Martin, who starred for decades on stage, screen and television, died Thursday of complications from emphysema, her son, Casey Dolan, told the NY Times. She was 82.

Martin was perhaps best known for her recurring role on the ABC series 'The Drew Carey Show,' in which she played ornery boss Mrs. Louder for over 20 episodes.

However, her small-screen career dates back to the early days of television, with roles ranging from 'The Twilight Zone,' 'Perry Mason,' 'Valerie' and 'The Golden Girls' to, more recently, 'CSI,' 'Six Feet Under' and 'Nip/Tuck.'

Video: Martin enters this 'Drew Carey Show' scene at the 01:10 mark.

Martin's big-screen credits include 1969's 'Goodbye, Columbus,' in which she played Ali MacGraw's mother, 'Cast Away' and the 2001 Farrelly brothers comedy 'Shallow Hal.' Horror fans may also remember Martin for her role as Freddy Kreuger's mother in 1987's 'A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.'

On the stage, Martin earned a Best Featured Actress Tony nomination for her performance in the 1958 drama 'J.B.' She continued to find stage work through the '70s, including roles in 'Under the Yum-Yum Tree' (1960) and Tennessee Williams' 'Eccentricities of a Nightingale,' in 1976. According to the Times, Martin was also a regular player in the Joseph Papp's Shakespeare in the Park productions during the '60s.

Martin was married twice -- first, to film composer Robert Emmett Dolan, in 1948. She was later re-married to Harry Gesner, with whom she had her second son, actor Zen Gesner. Martin is survived by Harry, Casey, Zen and her three grandchildren.

Comments

(41)

Tuesday 09 March

By j

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why do we need a five minute clip . Just show us a recent photo of her . Sheesh

By cuinsac

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ditto, just a current pic.

By Chuck

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Maybe you should crawl back in your hole!! How callous and uncaring!

By AP

Yeah, that's about as classy as any radio station that siply mentioned George Harrison's passing without playing at least a portion of one of his classic tunes from either the Beatles or his solo era. This is how fans remember the celebrities they loved. Perhaps when one of your family dies, we'll just skip both the service and the eulogy. Would you consider that appropriate?

By HG in MN

Ah, perhaps, but then I would have missed that delightful "Beerobics" ending!

In all seriousness, this gal has had a lovely career in the industry and will be missed.

By Val

I loved Mrs. Louder! RIP Nan - you were terrific!
My condolences to her family and friends.

By Elizabeth

Does anyone proofread these things? "Married twice in her personal life"? Where else might one marry?

By Uncledickierc

To Elizabeth..California

By Debra

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That's hilarious, Elizabeth.

Wednesday 10 March

By susan

on T.V. she was an actress after all.

By Bob

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Cleveland should be embarassed!

By Mike

Dam, I miss that show!

By benkarlin

"'J.B.,' a drama about life in a traveling circus."

J.B. is a recasting of the Bible book of Job in poetry by Archibald M. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1959.
It's like saying the US Constitution is "suggestions for how we can all just get along." Who writes this stuff?

By SUSAN

This is old news, Her name was listed on Wikipedia last week!

By Jason

20 episodes and the title is Drew Carey actress dies?? WTF, what an insult!

By Tyler T.Turtledove

She was also in an episode of the old Invaders TV show from about 1968 starring Roy Thinnes.

By bogomill

I thought it said that Drew Carrey died.Then I might have cared.

By rikstik71664

she played nun on nighmare on elm street dream warriors, she said bastard child of a 1,000 maniacs

By Louis

Although not mentioned here, Nan Martin gave an awesome performance in the beautiful movie, "Big Eden", a gay love story in 2000.
I will also remember her for two episodes on Golden Girls, especially the where she played the crotchedy old neighbor, Frieda Claxton, whostood up to all her neighbors in court because they wanted to save a tree in front of her home that she wanted taken down. When she dropped dead in the courtroom, the girls all chipped in to have a funeral for her because she had no relatives or friends. Also appearing in that epsode was Amzie Stricland who I remembered from the Don Loper Hollywood episode of "I Love Lucy".

By Tom

amen louis, I thought her performance in big eden (one of my favorite movies) was fantastic and I loved her as freida claxton also. She was one of those plays many parts actress.
RIP Nan we love ya!!

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