born Dec. 1, 1913, Weatherford, Texas, U.S.
died Nov. 3, 1990, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
U.S. singer and actress.
She co-owned a dancing school in her native Weatherford, Texas, before moving in 1938 to New York City, where she won a small part in the musical Leave It to Me and became famous for her rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." She appeared in movies before returning to Broadway to star in One Touch of Venus (1943). Martin originated the role of Nellie Forbush in South Pacific (1949–53) and later starred in Peter Pan (1954, Tony Award; television version, 1955), The Sound of Music (1959, Tony Award), and I Do, I Do (1966).