Sandy Martin began her acting career at the age of 15 touring the country with Martha Raye in Good-bye Charley. After several East Coast touring productions she settled in New York City. Martin began working in many of New York City's esteemed theatres: Lincoln Center, La Mama, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Playwrights Horizon, The American Place Theatre acting in over 70 stage productions. After their enormous hit with the stage play, Hothouse by Megan Terry, Sandy wrote the screen adaptation which she packaged with her good friends, Amy Madigan and Ed Harris, both whom she acted with in the award winning world premiere of, Prairie Avenue by Edward Allen Baker, both in New York City. (at Est.) & Los Angeles's Callboard Theatre. Esparza/Katz Prod. quickly acquired Hothouse, and thus began a long working relationship with Moctesume Esparza and Robert Katz that lasted over ten years. Starting as a Development Executive, Sandy worked her way up to being the Associate Producer of the company, working on the critically acclaimed feature films: Milagro Bean Field Wars and Selena. She was also Associate Producer of Gettysburg for Turner and Bowl Of Beings starring the famed comedy troupe, Culture Clash for Great Performances on PBS. During her tenure with Esparza/Katz Prod., Martin wrote several treatments and screenplays; Underdogs, which was optioned by Avnet/Kerner (Risky Business, Fried Green Tomatoes), Thirteenth Duke, commissioned by Marchelo Danon (Producer of the original, La Cage aux Folles), The James Dean Story (Mini-series - Marvin Worth Prod.), she also co-wrote a musical revival of Reefer Madness with Dan Gerrity - directed by the late, great Ron Link. Martin penned Ms. Prez a screenplay that she co-authored with Patrick O'Neal about the first African American Woman President. Martin produced and directed two documentaries. The Great Meddler about the founding of the American Society for the Protection Of Cruelty To Animals) and The United Farm Workers - A Tribute to Caesar Chavez. The short, Lovely Rita, stars her friend, Cch Pounder - (The Shield) Martin was also President of Edward James Olmos's production company, Olmos Prod. at ABC for four years in early 2000. Thrilled to go back to acting, Martin was very happy to score a recurring role on HBO's drama, Big Love as the creepy he/she Selma Green, as well as the comedy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, as Mac's Mom. Sandy has guest starred on numerous hit shows: CSI, Nip Tuck, Shameless, Saving Grace, Weeds, Cold Case, 2 Broke Girls, Parenthood, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles etc. She looks forward to continuing her role as Grandma from Napoleon Dynamite for Fox's animated version of the 2004 mega indie hit. She played the lead in Tennessee William's last full-length play; A House Not Meant To Stand in it's critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere at the Fountain Theatre in 2011. Her performance was nominated for an Ovation Award - Best Female Lead in 2011.
2024The Invisible Raptor as Henrietta McCluckskey
2022Mosquito as Annie
2021Luca as Grandma Paguro (voice)
2019Dumbo as Verna
2018The Head Thieves as Judy Castillo
2017Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri as Mrs. Dixon
2016Shooter (1 Episode) as Adele Poole
2016Stars Are Already Dead as Grandma
2015Some Kind of Beautiful as Susan Vale
2014Playing House (6 Episodes) as Mary Pat Caruso
2013Mom (1 Episode) as Lillian
2013Wander Over Yonder (1 Episode) as Dorothy (voice)
2013Lovelace as Ticket Lady
2013Ray Donovan (4 Episodes) as Sandy Patrick
2013Ass Backwards as Qwen
2012Bravest Warriors (1 Episode) as Dolores (voice)
2012The New Normal (1 Episode) as Miss Pepper
2012Perception (1 Episode) as Shirley (Homeless Woman)
2012Sunset Stories as Stu
2012Lab Rats (1 Episode) as Greta
2012Napoleon Dynamite (6 Episodes) as Grandma
20112 Broke Girls (1 Episode) as Ms. Pyle
2011Shameless (1 Episode) as Doctor
2010Rizzoli & Isles (1 Episode) as Kendra Dee
2009A Very Sunny Christmas as Mrs. McDonald
2009Make It or Break It (1 Episode) as Marge
2009Hot Sluts (5 Episodes) as Jackie
2009My Suicide as Mrs. Ellis
2008Marley & Me as Lori
2006Big Love (10 Episodes) as Selma Greene
2005My Name Is Earl (1 Episode) as Joy's Grandma
2005Weeds (1 Episode) as Doctor
2005It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (8, 8 Episode) as Mac's Mom, Mrs. Mac
2005The Closer (1 Episode) as Mrs. Wallingham
2005Adam & Steve as Biker Chick
2005Grey's Anatomy (2 Episodes) as Sally
2004Desperate Housewives (1 Episode) as Woman
2004CSI: NY (1 Episode) as Mrs. Collins
2004Napoleon Dynamite as Grandma
2003Nip/Tuck (1 Episode) as Helen Holden
2002Without a Trace (1 Episode) as Iris Healy
2001Stranger Inside as Mrs. Johnny Cochran
2001One Night at McCool's as Bingo Vendor Woman
2001The Division (1 Episode) as Marriage Counselor
2000CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (1, 1 Episode) as Office Manager, Female Trucker
2000Strong Medicine (1 Episode) as Iris Rawlings
2000Marlene as Louella Parsons
1999Jawbreaker as Nurse
1998Krippendorf's Tribe as Nurse
1997Sparkler as Ed
1997Female Perversions as Trudy
1995Sliders (1 Episode) as Shirley Montana
1994ER (1, 1 Episode) as Sister Helen, Mrs. Zarian
1994Speed as Bartender
1994China Moon as Gun Saleswoman
1991Prison Stories: Women on the Inside as Counselor Pennell
1990Testing Dirty as Unknown
1988Little Girl Lost as Violet Young
1987The Gambler: The Legend Continues as Mrs. Dickey
1987Barfly as Janice
1987Daddy as Ultrasound Receptionist
1986Vendetta as Kay Butler
1986Extremities as Officer Sudow
1985The Twilight Zone (1 Episode) as (segment "Nightcrawlers")
1985Real Genius as Mrs. Meredith
1984Hunter (1 Episode) as Iris Balzer
1984Night Court (1, 1 Episode) as Woman in First Row of Gallery #2, Sister Mo
1983Carpool as Peggy Ryan
198248 Hrs. as Policewoman
1982One Shoe Makes it Murder as Gloria
1982Farrell: For the People as Newswoman
1981The Patricia Neal Story as 1st Woman
1981Falcon Crest (1 Episode) as Criminal Institute Hospital Floor Nurse
1981Sizzle as Freda's Assistant
1978The Gift of Love as Jan's Mother
1977False Face as Sandy