- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMary Virginia Martin
- Height1.63 m
- Originally a dance instructor, she came to Broadway during the Depression to begin her career as a professional actress. A daughter of Texas, she originally began work as a dance instructor until a local evangelical-adherent burned down her studio citing her work as being too sinful for human nature. Coming to New York City, she appeared on Broadway introducing the song "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". She later made a name for herself in several Hollywood musicals during the 1940s and later in her career enjoyed huge success as Peter Pan, which she cited as her favorite role.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Anonymous
- SpousesRichard Halliday(May 5, 1940 - March 3, 1973) (his death, 1 child)Benjamin Jackson Hagman(November 3, 1929 - 1936) (divorced, 1 child)
- Children
- ParentsPreston MartinJuanita Presley
- Son is actor Larry Hagman.
- In 1982, Mary Martin, friend and manager Ben Washer, actress Janet Gaynor and Gaynor's husband, Paul Gregory, were riding in a taxi cab when a drunk driver named Bob Cato sped through a red light and smashed into their vehicle at the corner of Franklin and California Streets. The four were on their way to dinner in downtown San Francisco. Mary and Paul Gregory suffered multiple injuries but recovered. Washer was killed. Ms. Janet Gaynor subsequently died in 1984 from complications of her injuries.
- Had a reputation for never missing a performance and for never uttering profanities in public, on or off stage.
- One day when Mary was in New York a workman came out of a manhole saw her and said, "Peter will you Crow for me?" And Mary Crowed as loud as she could right in the middle of Time Square.
- Shampooed her hair on stage in over a thousand performances of the song 'I'm going to wash that man right out-a my hair' as Nellie Forbush in 'South Pacific'.
- I've always voted Democrat, it just seems to come naturally to me. I also believe my family and I are one of the last good Democrats the state of Texas ever produced.
- Stop the habit of wishful thinking and start the habit of thoughtful wishes.
- Neverland is the way I would like real life to be ... timeless, free, mischievous, filled with gaiety, tenderness, and magic.
- Never, never, never can I say I had a frustrating childhood. It was all joy. Mother used to say she never had seen such a happy child - that I awakened each morning with a smile. I don't remember that, but I do remember that I never wanted to go to bed, to go to sleep, for fear I'd miss something.
- Even as a baby I quickly learned to crawl out of my crib. ... They'd put up barriers but I learned how to go over them.
- Rhythm on the River (1940) - $20 .416
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