Martha L. Thompson

Martha Thompson spent the first twenty years of her professional life performing as an actor. As a graduate of the Juilliard School of Drama, she worked with John Houseman’s Acting Company, Papp’s Public Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons and many regional theaters. She also appeared in national commercials and sit-coms. When illness forced her to retire from acting, she found inspiration from her dog Gus to explore animal-related career options. This led her to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, where she became the Coordinator of Volunteer Programs and was responsible for writing and editing a weekly newsletter, “ZOONOOZ.” Her first book, "The Oxygen Mask Rule: How My Battle with Anorexia Taught Me to Survive," was a Finalist in the Women's Issues category of the 2012 International Book Awards and Honorable Mention in the Biography/Autobiography category of the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival; and in the Biography/Autobiography category of the 2012 New York Book Festival. Martha’s second book, "Giving Paws: Having a Service Dog When Your Disability is Invisible," earned an Honorable Mention in the Dog category for the 2018 Animals, Animals, Animals Book Festival. "The Rug Dealer," Martha’s newest book, will be available in February 2026. Martha also wrote, performed and produced a film of her solo show, "The Rug Dealer," which is coming soon. (Preview on Events page) Martha writes and performs true stories for Iron Skirts Productions, an all-female storytelling company in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband, two dogs and five quail.