Actress Nan Martin died 4 March 2010 of complications from emphysema. Born in Decatur, Illinois, on 15 July 1927, she grew up in Santa Monica, California, and began acting and modeling while a student at UCLA. Following her move to New York, she made her Broadway debut in 1950’s A Story for a Sunday Evening, and debuted on television five years later, in Studio 57.
She earned a Tony nomination in 1959 for her role in J.B., and was known for playing strong characters and mothers on television and in movies. Recently, she had a recurring role as the mean-spirited boss, Mrs. Louder, in the sitcom The Drew Carey Show.
Her genre roles include: Shallow Hal (2001), The Invisible Man (2000), Last Gasp (1995), The Adventures of Brisco County Jr. (1993), nine episodes of The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-93), Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987, she played Freddy Krueger’s mother), All of Me (1984), I Take These Men (1983), Bewitched (1971), The Invaders (1967), and three episodes of The Twilight Zone (old and new series: 1963, 1985, and 1986).
Martin’s first marriage, to composer/producer Robert Emmett Dolan, ended in divorce. She is survived by her second husband, Harry Gesner (they married in 1970), and one son from each marriage. Her son, actor Zen Gesner, and his wife, Cynthia Farrelly Gesner, both appeared with her in Shallow Hal.