Helen Martin

Helen Dorothy Martin (July 23, 1909 – March 25, 2000) was an American actress known for her work on stage and television. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Martin was raised in a musical family and initially pursued a career as a concert pianist. However, she dropped out of Fisk University to pursue acting. During the Great Depression, Martin worked as a domestic worker to support herself. She studied acting in Chicago and New York City, becoming a founding member of the American Negro Theater in Harlem. Martin had a prolific career in Broadway, spanning several decades. She is best known for her roles as Wanda on the CBS sitcom Good Times (1974–1979) and as Pearl Shay on the NBC sitcom 227 (1985–1990).