Martha Greenhouse
A versatile American character actress whose steady presence on stage and screen was matched by her fierce advocacy for performers' rights behind the scenes.
1921–2013 (age 92)·American actress·Birthday: June 14·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Martha Greenhouse built a long and resilient career not in the spotlight, but in the essential fabric of American theater and television. A New Yorker through and through, she was a fixture on the Broadway stage for decades, often in supporting roles that required depth and precision. Her face became familiar to TV audiences through countless guest appearances on shows like 'Kojak,' 'Law & Order,' and 'The Golden Girls,' where she brought authority and nuance to judges, grandmothers, and secretaries. Beyond performance, Greenhouse was a formidable force in the actors' union, serving on the Council of Actors' Equity Association for over twenty years. She fought tirelessly for fair contracts, safer working conditions, and the pensions of her fellow actors. Her legacy is one of quiet professionalism onstage and unyielding solidarity off it, a testament to a life dedicated to both craft and community.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Martha was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Martha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Martha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 80
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2013Died at 92
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
Key Achievements
- Served for more than 20 years on the Council of the Actors' Equity Association, advocating for performers' rights.
- Performed in numerous Broadway productions, including 'The Tenth Man' and 'A Meeting by the River.'
- Appeared in over 50 television series, with recurring roles on soap operas like 'The Edge of Night.'
Did You Know?
She was a founding member of the prestigious Actors Studio in New York.
Her stage career began in the 1940s with the American Negro Theatre, a pioneering Black theatre company in Harlem.
She lived in the same apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side for nearly 50 years.
“The play is the thing, whether you're in a palace or a basement.”
