Mary Martin was an American actress and Singer best known for starring in musicals such as “South Pacific” and “Peter Pan.” She was born on December 1, 1913, in Weatherford, Texas and began her career as a stage actress in the 1930s. She made her Broadway debut in the musical “Leave It to Me!” in 1938 and went on to star in several other Broadway productions, including “One Touch of Venus,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” and “The Sound of Music.” She was the first actress to play the role of Nellie Forbush in the original Broadway production of “South Pacific” in 1949 and went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.
In the 1950s, Martin appeared in several films, including “Deep in My Heart” and “The Great White Hope.” However, she is best known for her stage roles and her television appearances, particularly her performances of “Peter Pan” on television.
Personal life
Martin was married twice. Her first husband was Richard Halliday, a writer and producer, whom she married in 1940. They were married until he died in 1973. They met while working on the Broadway show “Leave it to Me!”. They had one son, Larry Hagman, who later went on to become an actor. Martin’s second husband was Ben Hagman, Larry’s father.
Martin was known for being a devoted mother to her son Larry and was very close to him throughout her life. Despite her busy career, she spent time with her family and was often seen at Larry’s baseball games and other events. Martin was also known for being charitable and actively supporting various charitable organizations throughout her life. She also wrote her autobiography titled “My Heart Belongs”, which was published in 1976. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 by President Johnson.
Martin was a smoker and continued to smoke even after being diagnosed with lung cancer. She passed away on November 3, 1990, in Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. She was 77 years old.