'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.