{{short description|American actress}} {{For|the fashion designer|Virginia Martin (fashion designer)}} {{Infobox person | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see WP:NONFREE --> | image_size = 150px | name = Virginia Martin | birth_name = Virginia Marie Martin | birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|12|02}} | birth_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|08|27|1927|12|02|mf=y}} | death_place = Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. | occupation = Actress, singer }} [[File:Rudy Vallee How to Succeed in Business Broadway 1961.JPG|thumb|L-R: Rudy Vallee, Virginia Martin and Robert Morse in Broadway production of ''How to Succeed at Business Without Really Trying'' (1961) ]] '''Virginia Marie Martin'''<ref name=":0" /> (December 2, 1927 &ndash; August 27, 2009) was an American actress and singer known for her work on the Broadway stage and on television. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/theatre/r.php/30839/show.html|title=Special Collections - University of Kent|publisher=Kent.ac.uk|date=1936-12-31|accessdate=2012-05-09}}</ref>

==Early life== Martin was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee,<ref name="ats">{{cite news |title='Little Me' Opens Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1097719173/?match=1&terms=%22Virginia%20Martin%22%20actress |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=Alameda Times-Star |date=April 17, 1964 |page=6|via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }}</ref> the daughter of Tommy T. and Harville Martin. She had two brothers, Jere and Donald, and was a graduate of the University of Chattanooga<ref name=":0">[http://www.chattanoogan.com/2009/8/28/157743/Martin-Virginia-Marie.aspx Virginia Martin Obituary], chattanoogan.com, August 28, 2009; retrieved March 8, 2015.</ref> in 1949.<ref>{{cite news |title=Virginia Martin, UC-Trained Singer, Is Selected as 'Miss Chattanooga' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/604930571/?match=1&terms=%22Virginia%20Martin%22%20Chattanooga |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Chattanooga Times |date=June 18, 1949 |page=3|via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Her studies included ballet, musical theory, piano and voice.<ref name="ats" /> She sang with the Chattanooga Opera Association, was soprano soloist at Second Presbyterian Church, and was Miss Chattanooga 1949. She worked as entertainment manager at resort hotels in upstate New York and Florida for five summers. After she moved to New York City she worked as a fashion model and studied drama and voice at the American Theatre Wing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Virginia Martin Plays Part in 'South Pacific' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/604987021/?match=1&terms=%22Virginia%20Martin%22%20Chattanooga |access-date=December 30, 2024 |work=The Chattanooga Times |date=September 16, 1952 |page=3|via = Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Theatre== {{more citations needed section|date=December 2016}} Martin made her Broadway debut during the original run of the musical ''South Pacific'' in the role of Ensign Bessie Noonan.<ref name="ibdb">{{cite web |title=Virginia Martin |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/virginia-martin-72283 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |access-date=May 2, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904110601/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/virginia-martin-72283 |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1954, Martin was in the chorus of the original Broadway cast for the musical ''The Pajama Game''. In 1955, she was a part of the cast of the musical ''Ankles Aweigh'', again in the chorus. She next appeared in the revue show ''New Faces of 1956''.

In 1958, Martin understudied the lead role of Irene Lovelle under star Vivian Blaine in the musical ''Say, Darling''.

In 1961, Martin originated the role of Hedy La Rue in the original Broadway production of ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''.

In 1963, Martin was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for originating the role of Young Belle Poitrine in the musical ''Little Me''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.curtainup.com/littleme.html|title=A CurtainUp Review: Little Me|publisher=Curtainup.com|accessdate=2012-05-09}}</ref> Martin played the younger version of Belle Poitrine with Nancy Andrews playing the older version of the character.

In February 1965, Martin played the lead role of Emily Kirsten in the musical ''Bajour''; the role was originated by Nancy Dussault.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/53436/Virginia-Martin|title=Virginia Martin profile|publisher=PlaybillVault.com|accessdate=2012-05-09}}</ref>

Her last appearance on Broadway was in the 1979 musical ''Carmelina''.

==Television== Martin made several appearances on ''Bewitched'' between 1965 and 1966, notably as Charmaine Leach, the wife of conniving private investigator Charlie Leach (Robert Strauss){{citation needed|date=December 2016}}and also the role of Roxie Ames.

==Death== She died on August 27, 2009, in her native Chattanooga, Tennessee,<ref name="ibdb" /> at the age of 81 from undisclosed causes.{{Citation needed |date=November 2024}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IBDB name}} * {{playbill person}} * {{iobdb name}} * {{IMDb name|0553183}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Virginia}} Category:1927 births Category:20th-century American singers Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century American actresses Category:Actresses from Chattanooga, Tennessee Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Singers from Tennessee Category:University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumni Category:20th-century American women singers Category:21st-century American women