Martha Coolidge

Martha Coolidge studied at Rhode Island School of Design and New York University Tisch School of the Arts. The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are United States. Work by Martha Coolidge is recorded in the collections of Harvard Film Archive. Distinctions recorded are Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame and Crystal Award.

• Name — Martha Coolidge • Birth Name — Martha Patterson Coolidge • Born — 17 August 1946 • Birthplace — New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. • Education — Rhode Island School of Design; NYU Tisch School of the Arts (MFA) • Occupation — * Film director • film editor • producer • screenwriter • television director • Years Active — 1972–present • Spouse — Michael Backes (divorced) James Spencer • Children — 1 • Relatives — Arthur W. Coolidge (grandfather)

Coolidge was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She is a granddaughter of Arthur W. Coolidge, former lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, who was a fourth cousin of President Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge studied illustration at Rhode Island School of Design, but changed majors, becoming the first film major at the school. She earned her MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Later in Los Angeles, she studied acting and other aspects of her craft with Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Joanne Baron, and David Craig.

Coolidge first made her reputation by directing many award-winning documentaries in New York City. While in New York, she helped found the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF). She moved to Hollywood in 1976 and spent several years as a part of the Zoetrope Studio created by Francis Ford Coppola. Her feature-length directorial debut, Not a Pretty Picture, was based on a date rape she suffered at the age of 16. Her breakthrough came with the independently produced Valley Girl (1983), a film recognized for launching the career of Nicolas Cage. Her film Rambling Rose (1991) won three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Diane Ladd, in addition to Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Ladd and Laura Dern (Best Actress). Rambling Rose was well reviewed and made top 10 lists for the year. Despite a limited release hampered by economic problems suffered by the production company, the film played for months and earned many honors. Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) for HBO was nominated for 11 Emmy Awards, winning five, including Best Actress for its star Halle Berry, and earned Coolidge an Emmy and DGA (Directors Guild of America) nominations for Best Director. From 2002 to 2003 she was the Directors Guild of America's first female president. She taught at the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.

Coolidge was previously married to screenwriter Michael Backes, with whom she has a son, Preston, named after director Preston Sturges. She is now married to production designer James Spencer.

• Online Film & Television Association Award, Best Director for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge • Emmy Award, Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge • DGA Award, Best Director for An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong • DGA Award, Best Director for If These Walls Could Talk 2 • DGA Award, Best Director for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge • CableACE Award, Best Director for Crazy in Love • Chicago Film Critics Association Award, Best Director for Rambling Rose

• Year — Title — Episodes • 1986 — Sledge Hammer! — "Under the Gun" • The Twilight Zone — "Night of the Meek" • "Quarantine" • "Shelter Skelter" • 2001 — Masterpiece — "The Pounder Heart" • Leap Years — "Pilot" • 2002 — Sex and the City — "A Vogue Idea" • "I Heart New York" • 2003 — Hidden Hills — "The Concert" • 2005 — Huff — "All the Kings Horses" • 2006 — Related — "Not Without My Daughter" • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — "Living Legend" • "Redrum" • "Take my life Please" • "Fracked" • "Maid Man" • 2007 — Shark — "Porn Free" • Weeds — "Shit Highway" • Psych — "Truer Lies" • 2013 — Cult — "The Good Fight" • The Glades — "Glade-iators!" • 2014 — Killer Women — "Warrior" • The Night Shift — "Blood Brothers" • Madam Secretary — "Passage" • 2016 — Angie Tribeca — "The Famous Ventriloquist Did It" • 2018 — Siren — "Showdown"

• Year — Title — Notes • 1989 — Trenchcoat in Paradise • 1991 — Bare Essentials • 1992 — Crazy in Love • 1999 — Introducing Dorothy Dandridge • 2000 — If These Walls Could Talk 2 — Segment "1972" • 2001 — The Flamingo Rising • 2004 — 12 Days of Christmas Eve • 2009 — An American Girl: Chrissa Stands Strong • Tribute