Nan Martin

Nan Martin was born on July 15, 1927 in Decatur, Illinois, USA as Nan Clow Martin.

First acted in a campus production of "The Gentle People" while a student at UCLA. Had a stint as a fashion model for designer Adrian, then made her debut on Broadway in 1950 in "A Story for a Sunday Evening".

Had 2 sons - Casey Martin Dolan (b. January 7, 1954) with her ex-husband Robert Emmett Dolan and Zen Gesner (born Zen Brant Gesner; June 23, 1970) with her now widowed husband Harry Gesner. She and husband Harry named their son Zen after the Japanese Buddhist sect that preaches enlightenment through meditation.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1959 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "J.B."

Had a penchant for motherly roles -- both nice, and not so nice. On screen, she was effective as Ali McGraw's snobbish, newly-rich mother in Goodbye, Columbus (1969), and as Freddie Krueger's mother, Amanda, in A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987); On the Broadway stage she played mothers in "Eccentricities of a Nightingale" (1976), "Buried Child" (1986) and "All My Sons" (1986).

She was awarded the 1983 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Performance for "Grown Ups" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

She was awarded the 1995 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Principal Role in a Play for "Three Tall Women" at Fox Theatricals in Chicago, Illinois.

Had at least 3 grandsons through her younger son Zen and his wife Cynthia: Finn Harry Gesner (b. July 24, 1997 in Cape Town, South Africa), Rory Farrelly Gesner (b. October 9, 2000 in Santa Monica, California) and Tuck John Gesner (b. July 11, 2003 in Santa Monica, California).

She is known for her work on Shallow Hal (2001), A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987) and Cast Away (2000). She was married to Harry Gesner.