The Fun-Guru

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Surprising Stories from the Set of the Sitcom Alice

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#36: Martha Raye Was a Real-Life War Hero Before Joining the Cast

When Martha Raye joined Alice in 1982 as waitress Carrie Sharples, she wasn’t just another sitcom addition. Long before Mel’s Diner, Raye had earned national recognition for entertaining U.S. troops overseas, beginning in World War II and continuing through Vietnam.

Martha Raye (born Margy Reed; August 27, 1916 - October 19, 1994), nicknamed The Big Mouth, was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. : r/OriginalVintageTV_

Her dedication was so significant that she later received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. So when she walked onto the Alice set, she brought decades of stage, film, and service history with her. Carrie may have been new to the diner, but Raye was already a legend.