Who is Martha Plimpton?

Martha Plimpton is an American actress, singer and former model who was Stef in the movie “The Goonies” (1985), then as Emily Spellgood in the movie “The Mosquito Coast” (1986), and as Virginia Chance in the TV series “Raising Hope” (2010-2014), among many other notable performances she has had in her career so far.

Martha Plimpton Wiki: age, childhood and education

Martha Plimpton was born on November 16, 1970 in New York City, USA, the daughter of actors Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpton. Her maternal grandparents were actors and her great-grandfather was a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

Plimpton attended the Professional Children’s School in New York City, a private school for young actors, musicians, dancers, and other performers. She did not attend college when she started her acting career at a young age, and has been pursuing it full-time ever since. However, she has been involved in several educational programs and initiatives, including teaching acting workshops and serving on the board of the New York City-based arts education organization, The 52nd Street Project.

Career start and instant success

Before turning to acting, Martha was a model and was involved in a campaign for Calvin Klein in the early 1980s. However, she soon found out that acting was her true calling.

Martha’s acting career started at a young age and made her screen debut at the age of 11 in the movie “Rollover” (1981). However, she gained more recognition for her breakout role as Stef in the popular adventure film “The Goonies” (1985), in which she starred alongside Sean Astin, Josh Brolin and Corey Feldman. Her performance in the film helped establish her as a talented young actor with a bright future.

Plimpton appeared in several other notable films in the 1980s; in 1988, she co-starred with River Phoenix in “Running on Empty”, for which she received critical acclaim and a Young Artist Award nomination. The movie also starred Judd Hirsch and Christine Lahti.

Plimpton continued to make a name for herself in Hollywood, starring in “Parenthood” (1989), playing Julie Buckman alongside a cast that included Steve Martin, Mary Steenburgen, and Keanu Reeves.

I think it’s more like Martha Plimpton and Keanu Reeves in Parenthood (1989). pic.twitter.com/J0u1kQzElg

— Astrid Lange (@astridlange) January 7, 2020

Continued success

Throughout the 1990s, Martha continued to establish herself as a talented and versatile actress, appearing in a number of popular roles.

In the indie drama ‘The Beans of Egypt, Maine’ (1994), she played the lead role of Earlene Pomerleau, a young woman from a troubled family who dreams of escaping her rural community, which earned her an Independent Spirit Award. In the biopic “I Shot Andy Warhol” (1996), Plimpton portrayed the supporting character of Stevie, a friend and collaborator of feminist artist Valerie Solanas. Plimpton also starred in “Eye of God” (1997), a critically acclaimed drama in which she played a woman who becomes involved with a troubled drifter in a small Texas town, earning her another Independent Spirit Award nomination. In “Pecker” (1998), a quirky comedy directed by John Waters, Plimpton had a supporting role as the main character’s friend, a Baltimore teenager who becomes an unlikely art world sensation.

The 2000s

In 2003, Plimpton had a guest starring role on the hit show “Law & Order: SVU”, playing the mother of a missing teenager in an emotional episode.

In 2007, Plimpton played the supporting role of Abby Cairn in the indie film “Joshua”, a psychological thriller that received critical acclaim for its intense atmosphere and strong performances.

In 2009, Plimpton had the recurring role of Patti Nyholm, a ruthless lawyer who regularly goes head to head with the show’s main character, Alicia Florrick, on the TV series “The Good Wife”, which lasted until 2013. Plimpton earned an Emmy nomination for her work n the show.

From 2010 to 2014, Plimpton starred in the TV series “Raising Hope”, playing the role of Virginia Chance, the matriarch of a dysfunctional family. The show was a critical and commercial success, running for four seasons and earning Plimpton a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

In 2012, Plimpton starred in the indie film “Small Town Murder Songs”, a crime drama about a police officer investigating a small town murder; playing the role of Sam, a local woman with a complicated past.

In 2015, Plimpton had a guest starring role in the hit TV series “The Blacklist” playing the character of Dr. Selma Orchard starred in an episode entitled “Dr. James Covington”.

In 2016, Plimpton played the supporting role of Helen in the indie film “The Intervention”, a comedy drama about a group of friends who try to save a couple’s failed marriage during a weekend getaway.

One of Martha Plimpton’s most notable on-screen appearances in the 2010s was in the TV series “The Real O’Neals”, which ran from 2016 to 2017. Plimpton played the lead role of Eileen O’Neal, the matriarch of an Irish – American family in Chicago.

Plimpton’s most recent notable on-screen appearance is in the TV series “Generation”, which premiered in 2021. Plimpton stars as Megan, the mother of a teenage girl and a high school principal. The show follows a diverse group of high school students as they navigate issues of identity, sexuality, and family dynamics.

Theater Career

Martha Plimpton has had a successful theater career, appearing in numerous productions both on and off Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in 2006, in the revival of “The Coast of Utopia,” earning her a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She went on to appear in several other Broadway productions, including ‘Top Girls’ (2007), ‘Pal Joey’ (2008) and ‘A Delicate Balance’ (2014). She has received a number of award nominations for her work in these plays, including Drama Desk and Tony Awards in various categories. She won the Drama Desk Award in the Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play category for her work on ‘The Coast of Utopia’.

In addition, Plimpton has also appeared in several off-Broadway productions, including ‘Hedda Gabler’, ‘The Children’ and ‘Alice by Heart’.

Net value

According to sources, Martha Plimpton’s net worth is estimated to be $4.5 million as of mid-2023.

Personal life, dating, married, husband, children

Martha was in a romantic relationship with River Phoenix from 1986 to 1989 and ended the relationship due to his substance abuse. In 1994, she began dating actor Jon Patrick Walker; they became engaged the following year, but broke up in May 1996.

She is not married and has no children. She has an English visa and lives part-time in London.

She has been an abortion rights campaigner and advocated for LGBT rights.

Appearance and body measurements

Martha Plimpton has blond hair and hazel eyes. She stands at a height of 5ft 5ins (1.65m), weighs about 120lbs (54kgs), with vital stats of 34-24-32, bra size 34B.

Facts and interests

Martha co-founded Everything is Horrible, a company that creates short films made specifically for the Internet.

She is a vegetarian, introduced to the lifestyle by her ex-boyfriend, River Phoenix, who passed away in 1993.