View for person of id: 106572
Martha Raye
Born: 27th Aug 1916 Butte, Montana, USA - Died 19th Oct 1994
Dept: Acting
Martha Raye (born Margy Reed), nicknamed The Big Mouth, was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. She also acted in plays, including Broadway. She was honored in 1969 at the Academy Awards as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient for her volunteer efforts and services to the troops.
In the early 1930s, Raye was a band vocalist with the Paul Ash and Boris Morros orchestras. She made her first film appearance in 1934 in a band short titled A Nite in the Nite Club. In 1936, she was signed for comic roles by Paramount Pictures, and made her first picture for Paramount. Her first feature film was Rhythm on the Range with crooner Bing Crosby. She was a featured cast member in 39 episodes of Al Jolson's weekly CBS radio show, The Lifebuoy Program, also called Cafe Trocadero. In addition to comedy, Martha sang both solos and duets with Jolson. Over the next quarter century, she would appear with many of the leading comics of her day, including Joe E. Brown, Bob Hope, W. C. Fields, Abbott and Costello (in Keep 'Em Flying), Charlie Chaplin (in Monsieur Verdoux), and Jimmy Durante. She joined the USO in 1942, soon after the US entered World War II.
She was known for the size of her mouth, which was large in proportion to her face, earning her the nickname The Big Mouth. She later referred to this in a series of television commercials for Polident denture cleaner in the 1980s: "So take it from The Big Mouth: new Polident Green gets tough stains clean!" Her large mouth would relegate her motion picture work to supporting comic parts, and was often made up so it appeared even larger. In the Disney cartoon Mother Goose Goes Hollywood, she is caricatured while dancing alongside Joe E. Brown, another actor known for a big mouth. In the Warner Bros. cartoon The Woods Are Full Of Cuckoos (1937), she was caricatured as a jazzy scat-singing donkey named 'Moutha Bray'.
She often appeared as a guest on other programs, particularly those which often featured older performers as guest stars, such as ABC's The Love Boat, and also on variety programs, including the short-lived The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show. She appeared from the third to the ninth seasons as Carrie Sharples on Alice, making two or three appearances a season. She made guest appearances or did cameo roles in such series as Murder, She Wrote on CBS and The Andy Williams Show and McMillan & Wife, both on NBC. She appeared again as Agatha for the six-episode run of the retooled McMillan, taking over for Nancy Walker, who had left the series. Her last film appearance was as an incontinent airline passenger in the disaster film The Concorde ... Airport '79.
Later in her career, she made television commercials for Polident denture cleanser, principally during the 1970s and 1980s.
[ToDo] Show list of extra photos here.
Film and Tv Credits
Total number of credits listed: 69
Film: 47 (68%)
Television: 22 (32%)
Remaining genres not in graph: Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, History, Kids, Fantasy, War, Western
Filmography
(No release date supplied. Possibly still in production.)
Detective Ruby Gale takes on her first big case in 1920s London. When a priceless diamond vanishes from a locked room, Ruby uses her wit—and her voi ... view
Character:
Martha Carpenter
(No release date supplied. Possibly still in production.)
Born on Christmas Day Holly Noel ( Maureen Ruby Jackson) discovers she has the "Great Voice" of the North Pole. When the Northern Lights start to fa ... view
Character:
Regina Wlison-Washington/Ghost Of Christmas Past
(No release date supplied. Possibly still in production.)
In the third installment of the holiday franchise, Holly Noel must organize the North Pole's first-ever musical gala, but a blizzard threatens to dim ... view
Character:
( Self )
(No release date supplied. Possibly still in production.)
It’s December 25, 2026. As Holly turns 13, she realizes her "Christmas Miracle" powers are changing. She can now manifest anything she draws in her ... view
Character:
( Self )
(No release date supplied. Possibly still in production.)
The sequel to The Clockmaker's Daughter. Elara finds a hidden "Permit in her Pocket" that allows her to travel beyond the town of Spindlewood. She dis ... view
Character:
Sabrina Williow
May 2026 (first aired)
Star Struck (TV Series)
Star Struck is a high-energy, stylish sitcom that highlights Maureen Ruby Jackson’s comedic timing and her flair for high-e ... view
Character:
Susan Mendella (12 ep.)
2026
Amara (Maureen Ruby Jackson) has spent a hundred years standing perfectly still in the center of the City Museum. To the tourists, she is just a beaut ... view
Character:
Martha
2025
Edited together from all four Airport movies by Academy Award nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (A History of Violence, Infested) and veteran genre fe ... view
Character:
2019
Explore the dramatic career and personal struggles of the talented and tragically short-lived entertainer Judy Garland through rare concert footage, n ... view
Character:
Self (archive footage)
2014
Bing Crosby was, without a doubt, the most popular and influential multi-media star of the first half of the twentieth century, pulling audiences in w ... view
Character:
Self (archive footage)
2005
A documentary about the life of Errol Flynn, with recollections from friends and family. ... view
Character:
Self (archive footage)
2003
A short documentary in the Chaplin Today series about Chaplin's "Monsieur Verdoux." Includes an interview with Claude Chabrol, whose 1963 film "Landru ... view
Character:
Self (archive footage)
Dec 1985 (first aired)
Sometimes she's too big. Or much too small. Sometimes things are backwards. And there's always too much pepper in the soup! Nothing is quite right sin ... view
Character:
Duchess (1 ep.)
Sep 1984 (first aired)
An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life homicide cases. ... view
Character:
Sadie Winthrope (1 ep.)
1982
While a few Hollywood celebrities such as James Stewart and Clark Gable saw combat during World War II, the majority used their talents to rally the A ... view
Character:
(archive footage)
1981
A mysterious performance troupe led by a Leading Player tells the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. Taped at ... view
Character:
Bertha
1980
New Tinseltown gossip columnist Dina Moran helps faded movie star Georgia O'Hanlon dig up dirt on amoral characters. ... view
Character:
Georgia O'Hanlon
1979
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" takes a contemporary jolt in this original musical set in modern-day Tennessee. Cyrus Flint is a mean old banker ... view
Character:
The Ghost of Christmas Past
1979
Aviation disaster-prone Joe Patroni must contend with nuclear missiles, the French Air Force and the threat of the plane splitting in two over the Alp ... view
Character:
Loretta
1977
The story of the Cosgrove family on Christmas Eve in a New England town in the late 1890s. ... view
Character:
Sep 1977 (first aired)
Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard ... view
Character:
Irene Austin (1 ep.)
Zelda (1 ep.)
1976
Bob's favorite memories and funniest moments on TV The biggest Stars! ... The biggest laughs! On DVD for the first time, this special 90 minute coll ... view
Character:
Self (archive footage)
Aug 1976 (first aired)
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn ... view
Character:
Unknown/various (8 ep.)
Carrie Sharples (1 ep.)
Sep 1971 (first aired)
McMillan & Wife is a lighthearted American police procedural that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971 to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Sus ... view
Character:
Agetha (6 ep.)
Agatha (1 ep.)
Sep 1970 (first aired)
The Bugaloos was an American children's television series, produced by brothers Sidney Krofft and Martin Krofft, that aired on NBC on Saturday morning ... view
Character:
Benita Bizarre (17 ep.)
1970
Jimmy (Jack Wild) ventures to Living Island with his magical, talking flute, Freddy. Once there, he befriends many of the island's inhabitants, but th ... view
Character:
Boss Witch
1970
A rock band is invented by the government as a cover to find hostages in a remote castle in Albania held by communist enemies of the USA. ... view
Character:
Foxy
1970
John Wayne hosts this film which was produced during the Vietnam War when the Communist threat was at its height. ... view
Character:
Self
Jun 1968 (first aired)
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks. ... view
Character:
Self - Guest (1 ep.)
Sep 1967 (first aired)
The Carol Burnett Show is an American variety/sketch comedy television show starring Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and ... view
Character:
Self - Guest (8 ep.)
1966
An all-star cast joins Red Skelton in this lavish 60-minute salute to circus clowns. ... view
Character:
Washerwoman Clown
Jan 1964 (first aired)
The Hollywood Palace is an hour-long American television variety show that was broadcast weekly on ABC from January 4, 1964 to February 7, 1970. Origi ... view
Character:
Self (2 ep.)
Dec 1963 (first aired)
The Judy Garland Show is an American musical variety television series that aired on CBS on Sunday nights during the 1963-1964 television season. Desp ... view
Character:
Self (1 ep.)
Sep 1963 (first aired)
Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on CBS in the 1990s. The show starred Gene Barry as Amos ... view
Character:
Beulah Brothers (1 ep.)
1962
The daughter of a circus owner fights to save her father from a takeover spearheaded by the man she loves. ... view
Character:
Lulu
Oct 1962 (first aired)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired ... view
Character:
Self (1 ep.)
Dec 1961 (first aired)
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much ... view
Character:
Self (2 ep.)
1958
This 1958 Christmas spectacular was produced by the USO for the entertainment of troops stationed overseas. Over 50 top names from stage, screen and t ... view
Character:
Self
Mar 1953 (first aired)
An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The various category winners are awarded a copy of a statuett ... view
Character:
Self (1 ep.)
Oct 1952 (first aired)
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. I ... view
Character:
Self (1 ep.)
Sep 1950 (first aired)
The Colgate Comedy Hour is an American comedy-musical variety series that aired live on the NBC network from 1950 to 1955. The show starred many notab ... view
Character:
Self (2 ep.)
Apr 1950 (first aired)
The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC rotated with other variety shows in a Sunday night bl ... view
Character:
Self (11 ep.)
Feb 1950 (first aired)
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no ... view
Character:
Self - Mystery Guest (1 ep.)
1947
The film is about an unemployed banker, Henri Verdoux, and his sociopathic methods of attaining income. While being both loyal and competent in his wo ... view
Character:
Annabella Bonheur
1944
Glamorous Lorry Jones, the toast of a Missouri military canteen, has become "engaged" to almost every serviceman she's signed her pin-up photo for. No ... view
Character:
Molly McKay
1944
Reenactments of actual USO experiences of its female stars entertaining troops overseas. ... view
Character:
Martha Raye
1943
A multi-studio effort to show the newsreel audience the progress of the Hollywood war effort. ... view
Character:
Self
1941
Olsen and Johnson, a pair of stage comedians, try to turn their play into a movie and bring together a young couple in love, while breaking the fourth ... view
Character:
Betty Johnson
1941
When a barnstorming stunt pilot decides to join the air corps, his two goofball assistants decide to go with him. Since the two are Abbott & Costello, ... view
Character:
Gloria Phelps / Barbara Phelps
1941
On a layover in Hawaii, two conniving Navy seamen borrow money to wager bets that their ship will win the upcoming gunnery practice trophy, having fou ... view
Character:
Lilibelle Bolton
1940
The action takes place in Ephesus in ancient Asia Minor, and the concerns The efforts of two boys from Syracuse, Anthipholus and his servant Dromio, t ... view
Character:
Luce
1940
Broadway producer Nicksie North and press agent Scoop Trimble find an investor for their next show who insists that they cast his ex-girlfriend, Clari ... view
Character:
Patience Bingham
1939
A couple inherits a college and to generate revenue offers a thousand dollars to players for each touchdown they score. ... view
Character:
Martha Madison
1939
Bob Hope is being stalked by a predatory widow who is a widow of wealthy husbands many times over. Martha Raye is a Texan heiress who wants to marry h ... view
Character:
Mickey Hawkins
1938
Jim and Walter are two brother sailors in the United States Navy. Walter tells Jim as soon as they get home he is going to ask his beautiful girlfrien ... view
Character:
Letty Larkin
1938
A screenwriter falls in love with a Mexican woman while searching for a story line south of the border. ... view
Character:
Midge Miller
1938
Gracie Alden tries to graduate from college to get an inheritance. ... view
Character:
Mabel Grady
1938
The Bellows family causes comic confusion on an ocean liner, with time out for radio-style musical acts. ... view
Character:
Martha Bellows
1937
A philanthropist's will dictates that four people receive $5,000 apiece, with the stipulation that the first one who can double the amount -- without ... view
Character:
Liza Lou Lane
1937
An ad man gets his model girlfriend to pose as a debutante for a new campaign. ... view
Character:
Specialty
1937
Mary Beamish, a folksy Ozark girl, yearns for the glitter of show business and for a man. She knows she is anything but gorgeous, but figures her enth ... view
Character:
Mary Beamish
1937
Tony Marvin is a laid back but incredibly successful promoter and fair-haired boy for J. P. Todhunter's pineapple company located in beautiful Hawaii. ... view
Character:
Myrtle Finch
1936
College students rally to save a struggling hotel from closing. Comedy. ... view
Character:
Daisy Schloggenheimer
1936
An unfortunate marriage and a bogus Count are the ingredients for this musical. ... view
Character:
Helen Flint
1936
The employees of a failing radio station must put on a huge ratings winner to have any chance of continued operation. ... view
Character:
Patsy
1936
Cowboy Jeff Larabee returns from the east and meets Doris Halloway, a young girl, that he regards as a vagabond, till he learns that she's the owner o ... view
Character:
Emma