

A master of rubber-faced comedy and character work who stole scenes on SCTV and became the hilarious heart of a Greek wedding franchise.
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.
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.
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
The world at every milestone
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Black Monday stock market crash
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
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.”