Martha Byrne
Martha Byrne | |
---|---|
Born | Mary Martha Byrne December 23, 1969 Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, television writer |
Years active | 1982–present |
Spouse |
Michael McMahon (m. 1994) |
Children | 3 |
Website | marthabyrne |
Mary Martha Byrne
Early life
Byrne was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, the daughter of Terrence Joseph and Mary Adele (née TuMulty) Byrne.[1]
Career
Featured roles
Byrne began acting at a young age when she joined the cast of the Broadway musical Annie, where she played the role of July.
She was a featured actor on a number of prime time episodic television programs, including
Byrne's best known film role was as the title character in the 1983 film Anna to the Infinite Power. In 2010 she provided the commentary for the film's DVD release.
Daytime television
Byrne is best known for portraying Lily Walsh Snyder on the CBS Daytime soap opera As the World Turns. She started in May 1985 at age 15, taking over from another teenage actress. Byrne soon became part of a "supercouple" when then-head writer Douglas Marland paired "poor little rich girl" Lily with hard-luck farmhand Holden Snyder, played by Jon Hensley. The show attracted controversy in 1987 when Byrne—months shy of her 18th birthday—and equally underage actor Brian Bloom played out a storyline in which they lost their virginity to each other.[citation needed]
Byrne won a
Byrne left As the World Turns again in April 2008. The show's executive producer Christopher Goutman stated, "We made Martha an incredibly generous offer in hopes that she would remain a valuable member of the ATWT cast. Unfortunately, Martha has decided to leave despite our best efforts to keep her."[2] Byrne later asserted that the contract negotiations fell through because the show refused to guarantee her the same number of episodes of work she had previously been guaranteed. She added that a casting call was made for her successor during her contract negotiations, which fueled her drive to leave.[citation needed] Byrne's last airdate on the show was April 22, 2008; her successor, Noelle Beck, appeared in the role of Lily from May 2008 until the series' end in 2010.
Byrne was hired as a script writer by
Byrne began portraying Alexis Jordan (née Joanne Edwards) on the soap opera
Music
Byrne is also a singer. She contributed a Christmas medley to the 1994 RCA release, A Soap Opera Christmas. She released her self-titled album Martha Byrne in 1996.
She has also released a second album, Woman Thing Music. Byrne again was the subject of controversy, as the sponsor of the second album was Philip Morris. The CD could only be purchased in conjunction with the purchase of cigarettes, or at one of the "Woman Music Thing" concerts that Philip Morris sponsored. Byrne eventually withdrew endorsement from the music label, as she did not want to be associated with a product that could encourage underage smoking.
In 2006 Byrne released a third album, The Other Side.
Awards and recognition
Byrne is a ten-time
Personal life
Byrne married Michael McMahon, a former undercover officer in the New York City Police Department, on November 12, 1994.[9] She grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey[10] and lives in nearby Ridgewood.[11]
Their first child, Michael Terrence McMahon, was born on May 29, 1998. An episode of the
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | The Eyes of the Amaryllis | Jenny Reade | |
Drop-Out Father | Elizabeth McCall | ||
1983 | Anna to the Infinite Power | Anna Hart | |
The Hamptons | Miranda | 1 episode | |
1984 | He's Fired, She's Hired | Emily Grier | |
1985 | As the World Turns | Lily Walsh Snyder | 1985–1989, 1993–2008 |
The Beniker Gang | Molly Stamwick | aka Dear Lola, or How to Start Your Own Family | |
Kate & Allie | Carter Lowe | 1 episode | |
1986 | As the World Turns: 30th Anniversary | Lily | |
1989 | In the Heat of the Night | Lizbeth Hagen | |
1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Melanie Wilkerson | |
The Young Riders | Vera Collins | 2 episode | |
Doogie Howser, M.D. | Sasha Larkin | 1 episode | |
Over My Dead Body | Julie Talmadge | 1 episode | |
1991 | Bob Hope & Friends: Making New Memories | Herself | |
Murder, She Wrote | Sarah Lapp | 1 episode | |
Silk Stalkings | Erica Dietz | 1 episode | |
Pink Lightning | Jill | ||
1992 | Parker Lewis Can't Lose | Erin | |
1997 | The Marksmen | Alison Wells | |
When the Cradle Falls | Donna McDermott | ||
2001 | The 28th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards | Herself | |
Mergers & Acquisitions | Iowa | ||
2004 | Living It Up! With Ali and Jack | Herself | March 17, 2004 |
2006 | SoapTalk |
Herself | May 8, 2006, April 5, 2006 |
Life After Tomorrow | Herself | ||
2009 | General Hospital | Andrea Floyd |
June 17–September 9, 2009[12] |
2011–present | Anacostia | Alexis Jordan | |
2014 | Crisis | Marie Wirth | 1 episode[13] |
Writer
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | The Bold and the Beautiful | script writer | 3 episodes |
Producer
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Bye Bye Sally | executive producer |
References
- ^ a b c "Martha Byrne Biography (1969-)". FilmReference.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- Logan, Michael (February 29, 2008). "Martha Byrne Exits As the World Turns". TV Guide. Archived from the originalon April 26, 2008. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- ^ "Exclusive! Elizabeth Hubbard Joins Anacostia". Soap Opera Digest. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
- ^ a b "Indie Series Awards History and Archive of Past Winners". Indie Series Awards. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ "CBS, PBS and The Bold and the Beautiful Lead Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Winners". Variety. April 25, 2015. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ "6th Annual Indie Series Awards: Complete List of Winners". Indie Series Awards. April 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 31, 2015). "General Hospital, Ellen DeGeneres, CBS Lead Daytime Emmy Nominations". Variety. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Rodriguez, Briana (March 31, 2015). "General Hospital Leads 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations". Backstage. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
- ^ Smith-Brady, Lois (November 27, 1994). "Vows; Martha Byrne and Michael McMahon". The New York Times.
- The Record (Bergen County), March 5, 2011. Accessed December 20, 2013. "It was a different world in 1977, when a 9-year-old from Waldwick named Martha Byrne embarked on a big adventure in New York City. One of 700 hopefuls who went to an open call for the Broadway musical "Annie," Byrne landed the part of an orphan — and went on to a successful showbiz career."
- ^ Staff. "'Empire’s Got Talent': Bergen native Martha Byrne holds one night only event"[permanent dead link], Bergen.com, November 8, 2011. Accessed December 20, 2013. "Waldwick native and Ridgewood resident Martha Byrne held an 'Empire’s Got Talent' event last night in New York City."
- Soaps.com. Archived from the originalon 2007-05-16. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- We Love Soaps. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
External links
- Official website
- Martha Byrne at IMDb
- Martha Byrne at AllMovie