Mary Martin - Definition and Overview

Mary Martin photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1949

Mary Martin (December 1, 1913 - November 3, 1990) was an American star of (mainly stage) musicals. Amongst the roles originally created by her were those of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music.

In 1929, she married Ben Hagman. Their son is actor Larry Hagman, who once appeared with his mother in South Pacific, as a member of the chorus. They were divorced in 1936.

• "Leave It To Me" (1938) Broadway

• "The Great Victor Herbert" (1939) Film

• "Rhythm on the River" (1940) Film

• "Love Thy Neighbor" (1940) Film

Married Richard Halliday 1940

Daughter Heller Halliday

• "Kiss the Boys Goodbye" (1941) Film

• "New York Town" (1941) Film

• "Birth of the Blues" (1941) Film

• "Star Spangled Rhythm" (1942) Film

• "Happy Go Lucky" (1943) Film

• "True to Life" (1943) Film

• "One Touch of Venus" (1943) Broadway and Tour

Donaldson Award, NY Drama Critics Award: "One Touch of Venus"

• "Pacific 1860" (1946) London

• "Lute Song" (1946) Broadway

• "Night and Day" (1946) Film

• "Annie Get Your Gun" (1947) National Tour

Special Tony Award: "Annie Get Your Gun"

• "South Pacific" (1949) Nellie Forbush

• "America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers" (1951) Television

• "Kind Sir" (1953) Broadway

• "Ford 50th Anniversary Show" (1953) Television

• "Main Street to Broadway" (1953) Film

• "Peter Pan" (1954) Broadway

Tony Award, (later) Emmy Award: "Peter Pan"

• "General Foods 25th Anniversary Show" (1954) Television

• "Person to Person" (1954) Television

• "The Skin of Our Teeth" (1955) Broadway, Washington, DC, Paris

• "Peter Pan" (1955) Television

• "Ford Star Jubilee: Together With Music" (1955) Television

• "Hallmark Hall of Fame, Born Yesterday" (1956) Television

• "Peter Pan" (1956) Television

• "Annie Get Your Gun" (1957) Television

• "The Sound of Music" (1959) Maria

Tony Award: "The Sound of Music"

• "Magic with Mary Martin" (1959) Television

• "Music with Mary Martin" (1959) Television

• "Peter Pan" (1960) Television

• "Bing Crosby Christmas Show" (1962) Television

• "Jennie" (1963) Broadway

• "Hello Dolly" (1965) Tour, London

• "Mary Martin, Hello Dolly 'Round the World" (1966) Television

• "I Do! I Do!" (1966) Broadway, National Tour

• "Mary Martin at Eastertime" (1966) Television

• "Jack Paar Special" (1972) Television

Husband Richard Halliday dies, 1973

Autobiography: "My Heart Belongs," Morrow (1976)

• "Together On Broadway" with Ethel Merman (1977)

• "Do You Turn Sommersaults?" (1977) Broadway and Tour

• "Bing Crosby, His Life and Legend" (1978) Television

• "Valentine" (1979) Television/Film

Peabody Award: "Valentine"

• "Standing Room Only: Showstoppers" (1980) Television

• "Beverly Sills Farewell" (1981) Television

• "Over Easy" (1981-1983, PBS, Host) Television

• "The Sound of American Music: Rodgers and Hammerstein" (1985) Television

• "Irving Berlin's America" (1986) Television

• "Legends!" (1986) National Tour

• "In Performance at the White House, A Salute to Broadway" (1988) Television

Kennedy Center Honors (1989)