Martha Raye

Martha Raye, born on August twenty-seventh, nineteen sixteen, was a remarkable American comic actress and singer whose vibrant career spanned six decades across film, theater, and television. Known for her wide smile and energetic comedic style, she earned the affectionate nickname 'The Big Mouth.'

Raised in Butte, Montana, by vaudevillian parents, Raye began her performance journey at the tender age of three, participating in her family's stage act. By eighteen, she had made her mark on Broadway, and soon after, she made her feature film debut in 'Rhythm on the Range' in nineteen thirty-six. As a contract player for Paramount Pictures, she starred in a series of successful films throughout the late thirties and early forties, including 'Waikiki Wedding,' 'Mountain Music,' 'Double or Nothing,' 'Never Say Die,' and 'The Farmer's Daughter.'

During World War II, Raye joined the United Service Organizations, becoming a beloved performer for U.S. troops. After the war, she returned to the screen with notable performances in 'Pin Up Girl' in nineteen forty-four and Charlie Chaplin's 'Monsieur Verdoux' in nineteen forty-seven. The fifties saw her continue to shine on stage and television, notably hosting 'The Martha Raye Show' and appearing as Carrie Sharples in the sitcom 'Alice' from nineteen seventy-nine to nineteen eighty-four.

Raye's contributions to entertainment and her humanitarian efforts were recognized in nineteen sixty-nine when she received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy Awards for her dedicated service to the troops. Her final feature film appearance came in 'The Concorde... Airport '79' in nineteen seventy-nine, marking the end of a vibrant and impactful career.