Martin Mull, the droll comedian, actor, singer-songwriter, and painter who found fame on the soap opera satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoff Fernwood 2 Night, has died at age 80.
Mull passed away Thursday at home after a valiant fight against a long illness,
his daughter Maggie Mull shared on Instagram. He was beloved for his unique blend of comedy and creativity.
He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials,
Maggie wrote. He would find that joke funny. He was never not funny. My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists and comedians and musicians, and — the sign of a truly exceptional person — by many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously.
A Versatile Career in Television
Mull enjoyed lengthy roles as the befuddled principal Willard Kraft on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Leon Carp, the boss and pal of Roseanne Connor (Roseanne Barr), on Roseanne. He also played private detective Gene Parmesan on Arrested Development, a pharmacist on Two and a Half Men, and was nominated for an Emmy in 2016 for his performance as Bob Bradley on Veep.
Cinematic Contributions
On the big screen, Mull is perhaps best remembered for portraying Colonel Mustard in the cult classic movie Clue (1985).
An Unlikely Soap Opera Star
Mull joined Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in its second season as Garth Gimble, a character whose dark comedic portrayal made him one of the show’s most complex figures.
I thought they hired me because I was a comedian,
Mull reflected in a 2014 interview. I was kind of surprised when all of a sudden we got all this Virginia Woolf-ish high drama. I didn’t like the character at all. I don’t care for violence, and wife-beating is particularly repugnant to me.
A Memorable Collaborator with Fred Willard
Mull often collaborated with Fred Willard; together they starred in The History of White People in America (1985). On Fernwood 2 Night, Mull played host Barth Gimble with Willard as his sidekick Jerry Hubbard.
An Unconventional Music Career
Mull combined his love for music and humor early on. In 1970, country star Jane Morgan recorded his parody song A Girl Named Johnny Cash
. His first album featured musicians like Levon Helm from The Band.
A Life Remembered
Mull’s unique style left a lasting mark whether through TV roles or musical endeavors. His ability to blend comedy with serious themes made him an unforgettable figure in entertainment history.
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