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Martha Raye

Martha Raye

Actor, also writer · Died October 19, 1994, aged 78 · Butte, Montana, USA

Martha Raye (born Margy Reed), nicknamed The Big Mouth, was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. She also acted in plays, including Broadway. She was honored in 1969 at the Academy Awards as the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award recipient for her volunteer efforts and services to the troops. In the early 1930s, Raye was a band vocalist with the Paul Ash and Boris Morros orchestras. She made her first film appearance in 1934 in a band short titled A Nite in the Nite Club. In 1936, she was signed for comic roles by Paramount Pictures, and made her first picture for Paramount. Her first feature film was Rhythm on the Range with crooner Bing Crosby. She was a featured cast member in 39 episodes of Al Jolson's weekly CBS radio show, The Lifebuoy Program, also called Cafe Trocadero. In addition to comedy, Martha sang both solos and duets with Jolson. Over the next quarter century, she would appear with many of the leading comics of her day, including Joe E. Brown, Bob Hope, W. C. Fields, Abbott and Costello (in Keep 'Em Flying), Charlie Chaplin (in Monsieur Verdoux), and Jimmy Durante. She joined the USO in 1942, soon after the US entered World War II. She was known for the size of her mouth, which was large in proportion to her face, earning her the nickname The Big Mouth. She later referred to this in a series of television commercials for Polident denture cleaner in the 1980s: "So take it from The Big Mouth: new Polident Green gets tough stains clean!" Her large mouth would relegate her motion picture work to supporting comic parts, and was often made up so it appeared even larger. In the Disney cartoon Mother Goose Goes Hollywood, she is caricatured while dancing alongside Joe E. Brown, another actor known for a big mouth. In the Warner Bros. cartoon The Woods Are Full Of Cuckoos (1937), she was caricatured as a jazzy scat-singing donkey named 'Moutha Bray'. She often appeared as a guest on other programs, particularly those which often featured older performers as guest stars, such as ABC's The Love Boat, and also on variety programs, including the short-lived The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show. She appeared from the third to the ninth seasons as Carrie Sharples on Alice, making two or three appearances a season. She made guest appearances or did cameo roles in such series as Murder, She Wrote on CBS and The Andy Williams Show and McMillan & Wife, both on NBC. She appeared again as Agatha for the six-episode run of the retooled McMillan, taking over for Nancy Walker, who had left the series. Her last film appearance was as an incontinent airline passenger in the disaster film The Concorde ... Airport '79. Later in her career, she made television commercials for Polident denture cleanser, principally during the 1970s and 1980s.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 27, 1916
Died
October 19, 1994 (aged 78)
From
Butte, Montana, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
22 on MovieCove · 49 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are Martha Raye's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
41%
Self
22%
Morality
17%
Society
10%
Power
6%
Survival
2%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 1 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 6

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Trickster: 3 of 10 analyzed roles.

Trickster
3 of 10
Ally
3 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Herald
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
12
Warm
6
Absurd
4
Romantic
3
Hopeful
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Martha Raye's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 22 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Martha Raye's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

49 credits, 22 with a MovieCove page; 21 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Star Struck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Show 12 episodes · as Susan Mendella

  • Amara:The Statue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Martha

  • Airports (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • The 13th Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as ( Self )

  • Alice in Wonderland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Duchess

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Sadie Winthrope

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Showbiz Goes to War(1982)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Pippin: His Life and Times(1982)

    as Bertha

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Gossip Columnist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Georgia O'Hanlon

  • Skinflint: A Country Christmas Carol(1979)

    as The Ghost of Christmas Past

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Concorde... Airport '79(1979)

    as Loretta

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Irene Austin · as Zelda

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Bob Hope's World of Comedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as (archive footage)

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 7 episodes · as Carrie Sharples

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • McMillan & Wife(1971)

    Show 6 episodes · as Agatha · as Agetha

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • The Bugaloos(1970)

    Show 17 episodes · as Benita Bizarre

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Pufnstuf(1970)

    as Boss Witch

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Phynx(1970)

    as Foxy

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Clown Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Washerwoman Clown

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Beulah Brothers

  • Billy Rose's Jumbo(1962)

    as Lulu

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Monsieur Verdoux(1947)

    as Annabella Bonheur

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Pin Up Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Molly McKay

  • Four Jills in a Jeep(1944)

    Writer · as Martha Raye

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Hellzapoppin'(1941)

    as Betty Johnson

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Keep 'Em Flying(1941)

    as Gloria Phelps / Barbara Phelps

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Navy Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Lilibelle Bolton

  • The Boys from Syracuse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Luce

  • The Farmer's Daughter(1940)

    as Patience Bingham

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • $1000 a Touchdown(1939)

    as Martha Madison

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Never Say Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mickey Hawkins

  • Give Me a Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Letty Larkin

  • Tropic Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Midge Miller

  • College Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mabel Grady

  • The Big Broadcast of 1938(1938)

    as Martha Bellows

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Double or Nothing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Liza Lou Lane

  • Artists & Models (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Specialty

  • Mountain Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mary Beamish

  • Waikiki Wedding(1937)

    as Myrtle Finch

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • College Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Daisy Schloggenheimer

  • Hideaway Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Helen Flint

  • The Big Broadcast of 1937 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Patsy

  • Rhythm on the Range(1936)

    as Emma

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Child (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Regina Wlison-Washington/Ghost Of Christmas Past

  • Holly Noel: The Winter Ball (Christmas 3) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as ( Self )

  • Ruby Gale & The Diamond Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Martha Carpenter

  • The Clockmaker’s Secret: Lost in Spindlewood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Sabrina Williow

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles, 45 of them dated from 1936 to 2026; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

$66K worldwide

Highest rated

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

McMillan & Wife (1971)

Film career

19362026

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1941Screen debut· Hellzapoppin'

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1930s14 · acting1940s8 · acting1950s1 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s10 · acting1980s5 · acting1990s1 · acting2020s3 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Martha Raye's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 16; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 22 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 22 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Skinflint: A Country Christmas Carol (1979)

92nd percentile spread · 63% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Monsieur Verdoux (1947)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Martha Raye work with?

People who share at least 2 of Martha Raye's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Francis Martin shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers