Photo: Studio Publicity / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Martha Raye is far more than the comic billed as "The Big Mouth." Born to vaudevillians in Butte, Montana, she was on stage at age three and kept audiences laughing across six decades of film, theater, and television. But what truly earns my admiration is her wartime dedication, recognized with the 1993 Presidential Medal of Freedom and the 1969 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. She did not just entertain; she risked herself to lift the spirits of troops in the field. To me she represents the highest use of comedy, turning laughter into genuine service, and that combination of grit and generosity makes her unforgettable.
Overview
Martha Raye (born Margy Reed; August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994) was an American comic actress and singer whose career spanned six decades across film, theater, and television. Her wide smile and energetic comedic style earned her the nickname "The Big Mouth." Born to vaudevillian parents in Butte, Montana, Raye began performing in her family's stage act at age three.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Martha Raye
- Name (Japanese)
- マーサ・レイ
- Reading
- まーさ・れい
- Born
- August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Dragon
- Origin
- Butte, Montana, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / singer / stage actor / television actor / film actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
Awards & achievements
- 1993 Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 1969 Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Actor — see all → · Singer — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.