Born Martin James Palmer, in Binghamton, New York, on November 4, 1959, to Sandra Ann (Sedlak), and James Charles Palmer, he is the oldest of 3 children, sister Shelly, and brother Randy. They lived in New York until 1975, when they moved to Santa Fe, NM where his father was a partner in the "Steaksmith" restaurants. It was in Santa Fe where Martin first started acting, the family moved to Albuquerque, NM, the following year for the opening of the new Steaksmith. Martin went to Eldorado High School, where he studied theater under George Nason, after, he attended New Mexico State University, where he trained under Mark Medoff (Children of a Lessor God) and Jack Barkla (Guthrie Theater) in both acting and set design.
Martin is the 7th Great Grandson of Lieutenant William Palmer (1610-1661), the earliest written record begins in the Plymouth Colony where it is recorded that on 7 Jan 1639 he was at a Court of Assistants for that Colony. On 3 Sept. 1639, Wm. Palmer was "propounded to be free at the next court as an inhabitant of Yarmouth (Connecticut). On 27 Sept.1642 the Court ordered that the company against the Indians should have Myles Standish as Captain and William Palmer as Lieutenant.He was representative from Yarmouth to the Plymouth Colony General Court in 1642, 43, 44, 48, 49 and 50. He served as Magistrate in Middleboro (this settlement is now in the Borough of Queens, New York City) from 1657 to 1661.
Martin and his dog Rain, live in the Manzano Mountains outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Martin has a son JD (James Daniel Palmer).
