What Happened To The Grandma From 'Don't Be A Menace..'? - Unforgotten 

Helen Martin was the only grandmother in the hood that could drive down the street and blast Wu-Tang Clan

Helen Martin lived to be 91 never married or had children. And she was a founder of the American Negro Theater. She was everybody's grandma in everything. _227_ and _Don't Be a Menace_ kept me cracking up as a kid. She even had Conan O'Brien shook. RIP.

Ashtray put everything in that punch and she still hit him with "you still hit like a bitch"😆😆. Classic shit

The fact that she didn’t think of herself as funny is crazy. When she was on 227, I don’t remember a moment when she wasn’t funny. Her delivery was on point. I Miss that little lady.

Legendary Sitcom.... This lady was in my household through out my entire upbringing! Salute 2 A Queen, May God Rest Her Soul

You got the juice now, grandma.

"You've been usin' those jimmy hats like grandmama gave you?"😂😂

Imagine being born in 1909?? It's scary to even think back to those times

You forgot to mention her role in the 1997's Master P film "I'm Bout It", She Cut Up In That Movie 😂

She's one of those actors who was always old no matter when you saw her.

The "Grandmother of black comedy", I like that 😏. Salute ✊.

“Can you imagine, waking up every morning and go to a Hollywood set or Broadway stage and perform from your youth until 90”. She definitely left her mark.

I just recently watched a interview with her back in '92. She kept it 100 with the interviewer 😂😂😂. He was shocked when she bluntly admitted she wasn't a fan of Elvis.

RIP Helen Martin!

Full Force’s grandma in House Party 1&2

Yes 🙌🏾 black history month just learned something new about her .....

This who Tyler perry should’ve named one of his studios after

I grew up watching her on 227, Good times & after that she never stopped me frm laughing. This is one of our true legends, she's iconic, talented, and real. I salute Ms. Helen hands down!!

The Grandmother Of Black Hollywood indeed. She'll never be forgotten. RIP Helen Martin 🙏🙏🙏🙏

"That beating the police gave me ain't slow me down a bit"

She Iived one hell of a life!! She layed foundations for the future black actors , what I took from her story it broaden my outlook on what life is suppose to be laying foundations making the next generation better

Underrated as ever. Not sure if she ever got her real due for everything she’s done and how much she’s paved the way for lighter, taller, younger and more commercially marketable actresses.

I was hoping that she would have gotten a Grammy or a Stella or a NAACP award she did pave the way for other artists to get their big start she will never be forgotten

She never got her props. She was the funniest lady on screen.

And you cannot forget, "Crying Wanda at everybody funeral on Good Times"

She paved the way, acting is not the same anymore. Ms. Helen Martin and others in her time truly overcame, persevered and really taught us what it means to pursue your dreams. Thank you 🙏🏽 This is #Legendary

Master P: "Grandma where you get that from? Grandma: "Colombia m*****f***a"

Nobody could do it like Martin , this Queen was and still Underrated. The award shows should recognize her with the Life-Time Award ASAP 💯❤️

Glad to see Comedy Hype highlighting Ms. Martin she was a trip as Pearl Shay on 227😁😁

I smiled during this whole video. What a wonderful, varied acting legacy. Thank you for covering her.💚

.... Yeah fr, Helen Martin is definitely the OG🙏🏾 R.I.P

We definitely give this an standing ovation! LEGENDARY ACTRESS OF OUR PEOPLE!

She was the perfect example of, "living your life like it's golden" she accomplished so much, and one thing about film, it lasts forever.. rest easy grandma 😘

DAAMN! THIS SOME GOOD SH!T! 😂🙏🏾💯

She was a grandmother on "Baby I'm Back" back in the 1970's. She also played on the all black show "Amos And Andy"!

I knew her every line in “Don’t be a Menace” in the 90’s

Wow! I never knew how far this woman's career went back she's truly an O.G in the industry and deserved every accolade she got. R.I.P. 💐 Queen.

Till this Day, I'm still tryna hit the helicopter because when she put that on Loc Dog it was a rap! 😂

I definitely knew her for the roles she played in 70’s/80’s sitcoms but I never knew her story. Thank you so much for paying homage to her.

Thank you for putting this out. She killed me in don't be a notice 🤣🤣. I'm glad someone is exposing the history of this Queens work for how she paved the way for others . 💯

She really was so underrated and should of been given a long time achievement award in drama&comedy or whatever they call it.

She was also on a sitcom with Demond Wilson called "Baby I'm Back" She was too funny. Check it out.

Never forgotten, forever loved and will truly be missed, she was always one of my favorites, RIP Grandma

I really remembered her from the sitcom “Thats My Mama”

Thank u so much for this. I never knew her career was so expansive. I just thought she was some lady they got to play the grandmama on EVERYTHING back in the day

Don’t be a menace wouldn’t be nothing without this lady right here 😂😂

This is very kind of you to tell her story. whenever I saw her I knew her performance no matter small or big SHE was gonna bring it!!!

That was a beautiful tribute that she rightly and absolutely deserved. Rest easy Ms. Helen Martin. 💗

Broooo I swear I was just thinking about her! Her role in “I got the hook up” 😂😂😂😂

“What up nyucka”

I growed up watching her she always was like Grandma she was a great great actor didn't know she passed away every time the cameras were on her you will stop what you doing look and listen because you know it's going to be funny rest in peace.....grandmama

Do any of these Federal programs still exist? We need MORE of that!

Thank y'all so much for making this. It really makes my month. This touches me deeply on a few different levels and for w few different reasons I'm genuinely moved to tears and never cry especially for just a video. Thank you.

When she was break dancing in church 😭

My cousins and I always told our granny how she was so much like Helen Martin. 😀🤣 May they both rest in eternal peace 🌹

She left her stamp in history R.I.P. Legend,Queen👑.

She's been old her attire life... she kept me laughing all the time

As a kid I always loved watching 227 with my folks she was iconic and her role In Don’t be a Menace Classic much respect to her. Great segment

Right on!!! This outstanding tribute to one of the world's most widely recognized faces on television and the big screen is long overdue, and I am so very grateful to you for sharing this extraordinary information with us. I must confess I knew very little about Ms. Martin's early stage career and was pleasantly surprised to learn about her lifelong friendship with Orsen Wells. What upset me rather profoundly was that I had not once heard her name mentioned in any of my classes and forums during college- including one course exclusively centered around early Black Hollywood. Martin's pioneering role as a co-founder of the Negro Theatre Company and her trailblazing efforts to integrate Hollywood and increase the visibility of Black actors in the eyes of the viewers is unparalleled. As a Black Studies.major, it is absolutely inexcusable that I walked out with my diploma in hand thinking that Helen Martin was just that fabulous old lady with the awesome pressed hair leaning out of the window on 227. Thanks to you, however, I now have a renewed sense of respect and reverence and admiration for Helen Martin. Thank you for sharing her legacy with the world and helping to preserve a rightful place for her in the forefront of our collective mempry

She not just pearl from 227, she is a screen icon. Thanks for your performances.

Thank you for doing this story. Ms Martin kept laughing all the time. Ty ty ❤❤❤

Countess Vaughan says that she used to say mean things to her on the set of 227. And talk about her weight and hair to other members of the cast. She said it hurt her feelings really bad...she was only 10.

She was the best,I adopted her as my Grandmother in my head."Hey I'm working this wake !" 😩😩😭

She reminded me of my grandmother soooo much! They had the same mannerisms and everything and my granny as a Martin also. My granny didn’t think she was funny either but was funny as hell when she told story’s. She hated when we said there’s your sister on TV when good times reruns were on and “Weeping Wanda” come on because she was just like that character, LOL! Miss them both!

I clicked on this immediately 💯✊🏾 I just thought this a few months back

I'm surprised she wasn't on Martin

I didn't know she was in roots. I absolutely loved Ms. Martin in sanford and son, her clapbacks and back and forth with Redd always had me cracking up. She was in all the classics.

In loving memory of Helen Martin. (July 23, 1909 - March 25, 2000) You are missed, and not forgotten.

Man I really appreciate this channel.

I remember her in almost everything in the 90s she was so funny. ❤🤣

my favorite part in " Don't be a menace" is when the pastor say,,, " Brother deacon, get the collection plate around on that side, SMH n@##a, get it around on that side!!!! " lmaooo

Whenever I watch shows with her in them, I see my grandma since they both look a lot. That's how I still remember her

She was so great!

Rip Queen, I looked up a few weeks ago to see where she is today, such a legend💜

This was VERY needed!!! Thank u! She be recognized, acknowledged and Celebrated!!!🤟🏾

Legendary ... multiple films & sitcoms yet never knew her name. Always ♥️ her

She smoked that good stuff and went to the “upper room” Room 227! 😂🤣😂

Allegedly she was the one who called Countess Vaughn fat and ugly when she was a little girl on the set of the show “227”.

I'm glad your program is around, you give people their just dues....they deserve it, many people don't know there names but never forget their face...thank you guys

I grew up with her on TV all my life..especially with re-runs of Good Times & 227. LEGEND💫🙌🏽💫

“There’s work at the Post Office “ Helen Martin.. RIH

5:46 “She was typecast to playing the grandmother role” What else was she supposed to do? The love interest? Come on, guys...

Thank you for doing this short excerpt of a true legendary actress!

I met her in downtown LA when I was 14 years old with my mom in the 80’s she was catching the bus with us and her and mom cursed out a lady who wouldn’t let me sit on a bench because she didn’t want to move her groceries. She invited my mother and me to her church and she was a wonderful strong cool women!!! A memory I will never forget!!!

The late great legendary Helen Martin

what's funny to me is, people who are funny, never think that they are funny.

I always think of her as 'Pearl' from 227. I remember her on Good Times... Thank you for posting this. Learned so much about her.

Awww, I loved her in 227. She was so funny to me. She definitely lived a full life, god bless her.

She was in COTTON COMES TO HARLEM

Awesome career. I still see her pulling up in that hydraulic car too funny.

Another well done, excellent, and informative piece of film. Thank you for this awesome channel!

I loved some Helen Martin, she always kept me laughing and her acting skills is phenomenal. RIP Helen Martin and thanks ♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Yal just forgot she was in Master P movies "Im Bout It & I Got The Hook Up"

I love her as Pearl on 227.❤

Thanx for reminding us of the Legendary Actress🔥🔥🔥

I love 227 and often wondered about Helen Martin's life, thank you for the history lesson on her. What a true trailblazer and pioneer.

She'll always be Weeping Wanda to me.

REST IN PARADISE MS. HELEN.

I love this channel. I was about to get pissed at the title, but I realize for most younger people Don't be a Menace would be their introduction to Ms. Martin. Thanks for spotlighting such an amazing person with such a life and career.

Thanks for giving her, her shine🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽