Pamela Sue Martin (born January 5, 1953)[2] is an American actress, who is best known for starring as Nancy Drew on the television series The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries[3] (1977–1979) and as socialite Fallon Carrington on ABC soap opera Dynasty (1981–1984), winning a Bambi Award for the latter in 1984.[4]

Pamela Sue Martin
Pamela Sue Martin as Nancy Drew, 1977
Born (1953-01-05) January 5, 1953 (age 71)
EducationStaples High School
Occupations
Years active1968—present
Known forThe Poseidon Adventure
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Dynasty
To Find a Man
Our Time
Spouses
Charles Gates
(m. 1975⁠–⁠1979)
Jorge Brusch
(m. 1979⁠–⁠1980)
Manuel Rojas
(m. 1982⁠–⁠1987)
Bruce Allen
(m. 1990⁠–⁠1998)
[1]
Children1

Early life, family and education

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Martin was born in Westport, Connecticut.[5][6][7] She graduated in 1971 from Staples High School located in Westport, Connecticut.[4] Martin was working in a hamburger stand for $1.45 an hour before she graduated when a friend of hers told her that she was earning $60 an hour modeling in New York. Martin decided to follow in her friend's footsteps as a teen model for print ads and television commercials.[citation needed]

Career

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Martin began modeling at age 16.[8] When she heard that Columbia Pictures was looking for girls to audition for a film called To Find a Man (1972), she decided to audition, despite the fact that she had absolutely no prior training, experience, or even ambitions in the dramatic arts. After a full three months, the producers concluded that she should be cast in the role of the lead female character. She was chosen by producer Irwin Allen to appear in The Poseidon Adventure in 1972, at age 19 based on her work in To Find a Man.[citation needed] More films followed, including Our Time[9] and Buster and Billie.[10]

At her manager's insistence, she began working in television.[8] Later, her work as ABC-TV's Nancy Drew made her something of a teen idol. Initially, the ABC program alternated each week between The Nancy Drew Mysteries and The Hardy Boys Mysteries.[11] In season 2, the shows were merged and renamed The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, [11] which led to Nancy's role being reduced.[11] This frustrated Martin, who left the series as a result.[11] Her final appearance as Nancy aired on January 1, 1978. Martin appeared in a cover pictorial in the July 1978 issue of Playboy magazine, with the headline "TV's Nancy Drew Undraped". In the magazine, she cited the merger of the two shows as her reason for quitting the series.[11]

Martin portrayed feisty and spoiled heiress Fallon Carrington Colby on the ABC nighttime soap opera Dynasty from its debut in 1981 through to the end of the fourth season in 1984. After Martin left (of her own accord), the character was initially portrayed as "missing and presumed dead". The series recast the role with actress Emma Samms at the end of the fifth season in 1985.

Martin hosted Saturday Night Live on February 16, 1985. In the 2000s, she was artistic director of the Interplanetary Theater Group, in Idaho.[5][12] Since then, she has worked sporadically in film and television.

Other activities

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In the early 1980s, Martin enjoyed scuba diving, tennis and skiing.[8] In 1984, Martin, who has long been involved in environmental causes, appeared in a public service announcement to help save pink dolphins in the Amazon River.[13] The ad was directed by Clyde Lucas, who appeared on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Martin has spoken about her struggle with interstitial cystitis.[14]

Relationships and family

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Martin has been married four times. Her first husband was Charles Gates, whom she married in 1975; they divorced in 1979. Her second marriage was to Jorge Brusch in 1979; the marriage lasted two years. After the divorce, she married her third husband Manuel Rojas; their marriage lasted for five years. Martin tied the knot with her fourth husband Bruce Allen in 1990. This marriage lasted until 1998 and produced a son.[15]

Pamela Sue Martin now

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Martin is writing her memoir 'The Spirit of the Matter.' She is involved with several environmental groups, including Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. She is also the national spokesperson for the Wild Horse Sanctuary.[15]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1972 To Find a Man Rosalind McCarthy Credited as Pamela Martin
1972 The Poseidon Adventure Susan Shelby
1974 Our Time Abigail "Abby" Reed
1974 Buster and Billie Margie Hooks
1979 The Lady in Red Polly Franklin
1983 Flicks Liz Stone
1985 Torchlight Lillian Weller
1990 A Cry in the Wild June Robeson
2010 Soupernatural Rod
2014 McTaggart's Fortune Sergeant Jeanine Bowman

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Girls of Huntington House Gail Dorn Movie
1974 The Gun and the Pulpit Sally Underwood Movie
1976 The Hemingway Play Dana Movie
1976 The Quest Ginger Episode: "Day of Outrage"
1977–78 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Nancy Drew 24 episodes
1978 Human Feelings Verna Gold Movie
1980 Fantasy Island Velda Ferini Episode: "The Invisible Woman/The Snow Bird"
1980 The Love Boat Donna Dayton Episode: "Boomerang/Captain's Triangle/Out of This World"
1981–84 Dynasty Fallon Carrington Colby 88 episodes
1985 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Pamela Sue Martin/The Power Station"
1986 Strong Medicine Celia Grey Movie
1987 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Melinda Jensen Episode: "Anniversary Gift"
1987 J.J. Starbuck Anchorwoman Episode: "A Killing in the Market"
1987 Bay Coven Linda Lebon Movie
1990 The Saint: The Software Murders Irina Movie
1991 Sky Trackers Doctor Spencer Jenkins Movie
2002 That '70s Show Wizard Episode: "Tornado Prom"
2006 The L Word Linda Kennard Episode: "Lifeline"
2017 My Christmas Prince[16] Sandra Logan Movie
2019 Nancy Drew Harriet Grosset Episode "Pilot"

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Work Result Ref.
1984 Bambi Award Dynasty Won [17]

References

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  1. ^ Schulz, Sarah (November 25, 2019). "'Dynasty': Meet Pamela Sue Martin's Three Husbands". allvipp.com. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "UPI Almanac for Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019". UPI.com. United Press International. January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019. actor Pamela Sue Martin in 1953 (age 67)
  3. ^ Pamela Sue Martin at AllMovie
  4. ^ a b "Pamela Sue Martin (1971) - Staples Players Alumni". Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Biography". pamelasuemartin.com. Pamela Sue Martin official website. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Brooks, Tim; Earle F. Marsh (June 24, 2009). "Pamela Sue Martin". The Complete Directory to Prime Time TV Stars. New York City: Random House. p. 550. ISBN 978-0307483201. b. Jan. 5, 1953, Westport, Conn.
  7. ^ Chase's Calendar of Events 2016 (59 ed.). Bernan Press. 2015. p. 75. ISBN 978-1598888072.
  8. ^ a b c de Arakal, Byron (January–February 1982). "Pamela". Orange Coast Magazine. p. 21. Retrieved August 14, 2023 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "Our Time (1974)". American Film Institute. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  10. ^ "Buster and Billie (1974)". AFI.com. American Film Institute. Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b c d e Plunkett-Powell, Karen (1993). The Nancy Drew Scrapbook: 60 years of America's favorite teenage sleuth. St. Martin's Press. pp. 120–122. ISBN 978-0312098810.
  12. ^ Tanous, Adam. "Valley actors to stage The Laramie Project". MtExpress.com. Idaho Mountain Express. Retrieved February 27, 2002.
  13. ^ "Pamela Sue Martin: PSA Help Save Pink Dolphins". 7th Voyage Productions. Retrieved November 1, 2008.
  14. ^ "Pamela Sue Martin". TMZ. October 24, 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Pamela Sue Martin: Life Story and Beautiful Photos From her Early Life and Acting Career". Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  16. ^ "My Christmas Prince". Lifetime. Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "The BAMBI award goes to… | BAMBI". bambi-awards.com. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
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