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Martha Plimpton
Martha Plimpton 2015.jpg
Plimpton in 2015
Born (1970-11-16) November 16, 1970 (age 54)
New York City, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1981–present
Parent(s)
Family Carradine

Martha Plimpton (born November 16, 1970) is an American actress. She comes from a family of actors, the Carradine family. Her first movie was Rollover in 1981. She became very well known after starring in the adventure film The Goonies (1985).

Martha has also appeared in many other popular movies like The Mosquito Coast (1986), Running on Empty (1988), and Parenthood (1989). More recently, she voiced a character in Frozen II (2019) and was in the drama Mass (2021).

She has also had a successful career on Broadway, performing in plays like The Coast of Utopia and Top Girls. On television, she starred as Virginia Chance in the sitcom Raising Hope, which earned her a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. She won an Emmy for her guest role in the TV show The Good Wife.

Early Life and Family Connections

Martha Plimpton was born in New York City. Her parents, Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpton, are both actors. They met while performing in the famous Broadway musical Hair. Her grandfather, John Carradine, was also a well-known actor. This means acting runs in her family!

Martha went to the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, which is a special school for young performers. She made her very first appearance on stage when she was just a baby. Her mother brought her out in costume for the final bows of a play.

Martha Plimpton's Acting Journey

Starting Out: The 1980s

Martha Plimpton began her career as a model in the early 1980s, even appearing in campaigns for Calvin Klein. She made her first movie appearance in 1981 in Rollover.

Her big break came in 1985 when she played Stef Steinbrenner in the adventure movie The Goonies. This role helped her become famous. After The Goonies, Martha was often cast as a strong, independent, and sometimes rebellious character. For example, she played Emily Spellgood in The Mosquito Coast (1986), starring Harrison Ford.

In 1988, she starred with River Phoenix in the Oscar-nominated film Running on Empty. For this role, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award. She also appeared in the popular comedy Parenthood, which was a big success.

Continuing Success: The 1990s

In the 1990s, Martha continued to appear in a mix of big-budget and independent films. She had a supporting role in the romantic drama Stanley & Iris (1990), which starred Robert De Niro and Jane Fonda. She also played the main character in the 1992 film Samantha.

Martha was also active in television during this time. She appeared in TV films like Daybreak and Chantilly Lace. She had a notable role in Josh and S.A.M. (1993) as a runaway. In 1996, she was in the film I Shot Andy Warhol.

Later in the 1990s, Martha joined the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, where she performed in several plays. She also had a recurring role in the popular medical drama ER in 1999.

Awards and Recognition: The 2000s

The 2000s brought Martha more recognition for her acting. In 2002, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her guest role in the TV drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She also lent her voice to the animated film Hair High in 2004.

Martha had a very successful period on Broadway. From 2006 to 2007, she performed in The Coast of Utopia, a series of plays. For her work in this production, she won a Drama Desk Award and was nominated for a Tony Award. She received two more Tony nominations in 2008 and 2009 for her roles in Top Girls and Pal Joey.

Television Stardom: The 2010s

In 2010, Martha Plimpton took on a main role in the Fox sitcom Raising Hope. She played Virginia Chance, a hardworking and funny mother. Her performance was highly praised, and she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

She also had a recurring role in the CBS legal drama The Good Wife from 2009 to 2013. Her performance as attorney Patti Nyholm earned her a Primetime Emmy Award for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2012.

In 2014, Martha returned to Broadway in a revival of A Delicate Balance. From 2016 to 2017, she starred in the ABC sitcom The Real O'Neals. In 2019, she voiced the character Yelena in the popular animated movie Frozen II.

Recent Work: The 2020s

In 2021, Martha Plimpton appeared in the drama film Mass, which received very positive reviews. She also starred in the HBO series Generation and the miniseries The Regime.

Personal Life

Martha Plimpton lives part-time in London. She has also been a strong supporter of LGBT rights causes.

Notable Performances

Here are some of Martha Plimpton's most well-known roles in theatre, film, and television:

Theatre Highlights

  • The Heidi Chronicles (1988)
  • SubUrbia (1994)
  • Hedda Gabler (2001)
  • The Coast of Utopia (2006–2007)
  • A Midsummer Night's Dream (2007)
  • Top Girls (2008)
  • Pal Joey (2008–2009)
  • A Delicate Balance (2014–2015)

Film Highlights

  • Rollover (1981)
  • The Goonies (1985)
  • The Mosquito Coast (1986)
  • Running on Empty (1988)
  • Parenthood (1989)
  • Samantha (1991)
  • Josh and S.A.M. (1993)
  • I Shot Andy Warhol (1996)
  • Frozen II (2019) (voice role)
  • Mass (2021)

Television Highlights

  • Family Ties (1985)
  • ER (1999)
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2002)
  • The Good Wife (2009–2013)
  • Raising Hope (2010–2014)
  • The Real O'Neals (2016–2017)
  • Generation (2021)
  • The Regime (2024)

Awards and Nominations

Martha Plimpton has received many awards and nominations throughout her career:

Images for kids

  • Martha Plimpton (46724873471)

    Plimpton in 1996

  • Martha Plimpton 2009

    Plimpton attending the 63rd Tony Awards, 2009

  • River Phoenix and Martha Plimpton

    River Phoenix and Plimpton on the red carpet at the 61st Academy Awards, 1989

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Martha Plimpton para niños

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