Mary Martin

Broadway’s original Peter Pan, Mary Martin, was born on December 1, 1913, in Weatherford, Texas. Growing up, Martin was encouraged by her parents to study violin and singing. She developed an early love of theater and film, writing and performing in plays for her family and friends. At age fifteen, Martin dropped out of school and married first husband, Benjamin Hagman. The couple had a son, Larry Hagman, who would go on to become a star in his own right on such shows as Dallas and I Dream of Jeannie. Soon after the birth of her son, Martin opened the Mary Hagman School of Dance in Weatherford. While on a trip to Hollywood to study dance, Martin realized her love of show business, which led to splitting from her husband and pursuing film auditions.

While performing at the Trocadero nightclub, Martin was noticed by Broadway producer Lawrence Schwab, who led her to the bright lights of Broadway. In her mid-twenties, Martin played the role of Dolly in a theater production of Leave It to Me, which landed her a contract with Paramount Pictures. From there, Martin appeared in a series of Hollywood films; however, she would eventually return to her first love of theater.

With her film career taking off, Martin’s personal life was flourishing as well, when she met and married producer Richard Halliday. The couple had a daughter, Heller, and returned to New York, with Halliday assuming the role of Martin’s manager. For the remainder of her career, Martin devoted herself to stage productions exclusively. She played Annie Oakley in the touring production of Annie Get Your Gun from 1947-1948, and Nellie Forbush in Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's South Pacific from 1949 to 1951. Martin’s personal favorite was playing the role of androgynous lost boy, Peter, in Peter Pan. Martin identified with Peter’s desire to fly – as a child, Martin broke her collarbone while attempting to fly off the roof of her garage. Martin also excelled in the role of Maria in The Sound of Music, for which she received the Theatre Wing's Tony Award and the New York Drama Critics Award in 1959.

In 1969, Martin and her husband moved to Anapolis, Brazil. The couple lived there on a farm, and Martin ran a boutique selling her own fashion and needlepoint designs. After the death of her husband, Martin returned to the U.S. to co-host a PBS show which dealt with seniors’ issues, Over Easy.

In 1987, Martin returned to the stage in a touring production called Legends! with Carol Channing. Three years later, Martin passed away at the age of seventy-six from cancer at her California ranch. On the subject of her illustrious life, Martin once told People magazine, "It's been a fabulous life and a wonderful career. I'll keep on living until it's time. Then I'll just go on to another stage."

YUDDY