Martin Mull, the accomplished comedian, actor, singer-songwriter, and painter known for his roles in Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoff Fernwood 2-Night, has passed away at the age of 80. He died Thursday at home after what his daughter Maggie Mull described as a valiant fight against a long illness
in an Instagram post.
He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials.
Maggie continued, 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.
A Multifaceted Talent
Mull’s career spanned several decades with standout roles as Principal Willard Kraft on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and Leon Carp, the flamboyant boss of Roseanne Connor (Roseanne Barr) on Roseanne. He played Gene Parmesan, the master of disguise on Arrested Development, and also appeared as a pharmacist with a penchant for sampling his product on Two and a Half Men.
Mull received his sole Emmy nomination in 2016 for his role as Bob Bradley on Veep. His unique blend of wit and charm made him a fan favorite across these series.
The Mockumentary Pioneer
Together with Fred Willard, Mull co-wrote the 1985 Cinemax mockumentary The History of White People in America and its sequel. His film career also included portraying the iconic character Colonel Mustard in the 1985 movie adaptation of the board game Clue.
An Early Start in Music
Mull’s entry into entertainment started with music. In 1970, country music star Jane Morgan recorded his parody song A Girl Named Johnny Cash
. He later gained national fame from performances at nightclubs where he often opened for musicians like Frank Zappa, Randy Newman, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Joel. His first album released in 1972 featured drummer Levon Helm of The Band.
The Breakthrough Role
The turning point in Mull’s career came with his hilarious yet controversial characters Garth and Barth Gimble on the Norman Lear-produced satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, which eventually led to his starring role on Fernwood 2-Night.
Maggie noted how her father was deeply passionate about every art form he touched. Indeed, Martin Mull’s captivating performances have left an indelible mark on audiences and co-stars alike.
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