Famous Birthdays·January 15·Andrea Martin
Andrea Martin

USAndrea Martin

A master of rubber-faced comedy and character work who stole scenes on SCTV and became the hilarious heart of a Greek wedding franchise.

Born 1947 (age 79)·American and Canadian actress·Birthday: January 15·Baby Boomers

Photo: PhilipRomanoPhoto · CC BY 4.0

Biography

Andrea Martin, born in Portland, Maine, carved a unique path as a performer whose boundless energy and precise comic timing made her a standout from the stage to the screen. Her breakthrough came as a core cast member on the groundbreaking sketch series SCTV, where she created a gallery of unforgettable characters, from the perpetually exasperated station manager Edith Prickley to the libidinous talk show host Pirini Scleroso. This work established her as a comedian's comedian, fearless and wildly inventive. She seamlessly transitioned this skill into a rich film and theatre career, most famously as the scene-stealing Aunt Voula in the 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' series, delivering lines that entered the cultural lexicon. Beyond comedy, she proved her dramatic chops on Broadway, winning two Tony Awards for her roles in musicals, a testament to her versatile and deeply felt artistry. Martin's voice has also animated countless children's projects, her distinctive sound bringing warmth and humor to characters in films like 'Anastasia.' Her career is a masterclass in commitment, proving that character actors are often the most vital and memorable stars.

Baby Boomers

1946–1964

The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.

Andrea was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.

#1 When Andrea Was Born

The biggest hits of 1947

#1 Movie

The Egg and I

Best Picture

Gentleman's Agreement

Andrea's Life & Times

The world at every milestone

1947Born

India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found

Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school

Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne

Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager

Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive

JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote

US sends combat troops to Vietnam

Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21

Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated

Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30

Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies

Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40

Black Monday stock market crash

Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50

Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published

Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60

iPhone released; Great Recession begins

Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70

#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US

Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump

Key Achievements

  • Won two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for 'My Favorite Year' (1993) and 'Pippin' (2013).
  • Created a host of iconic characters as a founding cast member of the influential sketch comedy series 'SCTV.'
  • Delivered the immortal 'There's a hole in this cake!' monologue as Aunt Voula in the film 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.'
  • Received widespread acclaim for her dramatic stage performance in 'Act One,' earning a Tony nomination in 2014.

Did You Know?

She is the oldest female performer to win a Tony Award for acting, winning for 'Pippin' at age 66.

She holds both American and Canadian citizenship and is a Member of the Order of Canada.

Her first professional acting job was in the original Toronto production of the rock musical 'Hair.'

She provided the voice for the grandmother, Grandma Sophie, in the animated film 'The Rugrats Movie.'

“I don't think you ever stop learning how to be funny. You just get better at hiding the effort.”

— Andrea Martin

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