Anne-Marie Martin
Encyclopedia
Anne-Marie Martin is a Canadian
actress and writer who is perhaps best known for playing Sgt. Dori Doreau in the American
television
comedy series Sledge Hammer!
from 1986 to 1988.
Martin also played Gwen Davies on the soap opera
Days of our Lives
in the early 1980s. Prior to 1980, she acted under her real name, "Eddie Benton", most notably in the unsuccessful series pilot/telefilm Dr. Strange
(1978). She also appeared in films such as Prom Night, The Boogens
, and a Cameo in Halloween II
; as well as numerous TV series guest roles. Among these were Stella Breed, a woman with psychokinetic powers in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
episode "Twiki is Missing", and an officer who faces an amputation after injury in the line of duty on T. J. Hooker
. Prior to this she appeared in H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come
, a low-budget science fiction film that capitalized on the popularity of Buck Rogers (Martin was made up to resemble Erin Gray
's Buck Rogers character, Wilma Deering
). She was also a regular on the short-lived 1977 series Rafferty opposite Patrick McGoohan
and appeared in the equally short lived Time Express
in 1979.
In the early 1980s, she appeared in a Highway to Heaven
episode in which she and Victor French
traded bodies. Alan Spencer
, who created Sledge Hammer, chose her for the Doreau role; he also wrote an episode of the series that allowed her to, if not exactly change bodies with Sledge Hammer, at least impersonate him. As "Eddie Benton", her birth name, Martin also auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Princess Leia in the first Star Wars movie.
Martin married author Michael Crichton
(his fourth wife) in 1987 (she had a small role in Crichton's film Runaway
three years earlier), and following the cancellation of Sledge Hammer!, retired from television and film acting. In 1989, they had a daughter, Taylor-Anne, who attends Barnard College in New York. In the 1990s, Martin co-wrote, with Crichton, the screenplay to the 1996 film Twister. The couple separated in 2001 and a divorce settlement was reached in 2003. Martin went on to pursue her love of horses and ride competitively. She recently rode for the American Team in the World Championship competition for Icelandic horses.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actress and writer who is perhaps best known for playing Sgt. Dori Doreau in the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
comedy series Sledge Hammer!
Sledge Hammer!
Sledge Hammer! is an American satirical police sitcom produced by New World Television that ran for two seasons on ABC from 1986 to 1988. The series was created by Alan Spencer and stars David Rasche as Inspector Sledge Hammer, a preposterous caricature of the standard "cop on the edge" character,...
from 1986 to 1988.
Martin also played Gwen Davies on the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
in the early 1980s. Prior to 1980, she acted under her real name, "Eddie Benton", most notably in the unsuccessful series pilot/telefilm Dr. Strange
Dr. Strange (1978 film)
Dr. Strange is a made-for-TV movie based on the Marvel Comics fictional character Dr. Strange, created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. It was both directed and written by Philip DeGuere...
(1978). She also appeared in films such as Prom Night, The Boogens
The Boogens
The Boogens is a 1981 horror movie starring Rebecca Balding, Fred McCarren, Anne-Marie Martin, and Jeff Harlan.-Plot:A small construction team of four men work to reopen an abandoned silver mine 100 years after a mysterious massacre forced the Army to shut it down...
, and a Cameo in Halloween II
Halloween II
Halloween II is a 1981 slasher film directed by Rick Rosenthal, and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. It is the second installment in the Halloween series and is a direct sequel to the Halloween set on the same night of October 31, 1978 as the seemingly unkillable Michael Myers continues to...
; as well as numerous TV series guest roles. Among these were Stella Breed, a woman with psychokinetic powers in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
episode "Twiki is Missing", and an officer who faces an amputation after injury in the line of duty on T. J. Hooker
T. J. Hooker
T.J. Hooker is an American police drama television program starring William Shatner in the title role as a 15-year veteran police sergeant. The series premiered as a mid-season replacement on March 13, 1982 on ABC and ran on the network until May 4, 1985...
. Prior to this she appeared in H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come
H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come
H. G. Wells' The Shape of Things to Come is a Canadian science fiction motion picture first released in May 1979.Although credited to H. G. Wells, the film takes only its title and some character names from The Shape of Things to Come, Wells' speculative novel from 1933. The plot bears no...
, a low-budget science fiction film that capitalized on the popularity of Buck Rogers (Martin was made up to resemble Erin Gray
Erin Gray
Erin Gray is an American actress, perhaps best known for her roles as Kate Summers in the situation comedy Silver Spoons and as Colonel Wilma Deering in the science fiction television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century....
's Buck Rogers character, Wilma Deering
Wilma Deering
Wilma Deering is a fictional character featured in the various iterations of Buck Rogers which have spanned many media over the years.Through all the versions of Buck Rogers, Wilma Deering has maintained some clear characteristics. She is a sometimes romantic interest for Buck, always a loyal...
). She was also a regular on the short-lived 1977 series Rafferty opposite Patrick McGoohan
Patrick McGoohan
Patrick Joseph McGoohan was an American-born actor, raised in Ireland and England, with an extensive stage and film career, most notably in the 1960s television series Danger Man , and The Prisoner, which he co-created...
and appeared in the equally short lived Time Express
Time Express
Time Express is a short-lived American fantasy TV series, broadcast April–May 1979 on CBS and later syndicated. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts who had both previously been involved in the creation of Charlie's Angels...
in 1979.
In the early 1980s, she appeared in a Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
episode in which she and Victor French
Victor French
Victor Edwin French was an American actor and director.-Early career:Born in Santa Barbara, California,...
traded bodies. Alan Spencer
Alan Spencer
Alan Spencer is an American television writer and producer, known for creating the 1980s satirical police series Sledge Hammer!. He was one of the youngest people ever to join the Writers Guild of America, writing for television at the age of fifteen...
, who created Sledge Hammer, chose her for the Doreau role; he also wrote an episode of the series that allowed her to, if not exactly change bodies with Sledge Hammer, at least impersonate him. As "Eddie Benton", her birth name, Martin also auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Princess Leia in the first Star Wars movie.
Martin married author Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
(his fourth wife) in 1987 (she had a small role in Crichton's film Runaway
Runaway (1984 film)
Runaway is a 1984 science fiction action film starring Tom Selleck, Gene Simmons and Cynthia Rhodes. This film also features Kirstie Alley in one of her early appearances. The film was written and directed by Michael Crichton. The original music score was composed by Jerry Goldsmith, and was the...
three years earlier), and following the cancellation of Sledge Hammer!, retired from television and film acting. In 1989, they had a daughter, Taylor-Anne, who attends Barnard College in New York. In the 1990s, Martin co-wrote, with Crichton, the screenplay to the 1996 film Twister. The couple separated in 2001 and a divorce settlement was reached in 2003. Martin went on to pursue her love of horses and ride competitively. She recently rode for the American Team in the World Championship competition for Icelandic horses.