In heartbreaking news for fans of comedy and prolific character actors, Martin Mull, the comedian, actor, musician, and painter, has passed away at the age of 80. Mull, known for his roles in shows such as “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “Fernwood 2 Night,” “Roseanne,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Arrested Development,” and “Danny Phantom,” as well as the cult classic film “Clue,” died after a long illness. The news was first announced by his daughter, Maggie Mull, on Instagram.
Daughter’s Heartfelt Tribute
Maggie Mull wrote:
“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness. He excelled in every creative discipline imaginable and even did Red Roof Inn commercials, a joke he would have found funny. He was never not funny. My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, friends, coworkers, fellow artists, comedians, musicians, and many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously.”
Early Life and Career
Mull grew up in North Ridgeville, Ohio, and later moved to New Canaan, Connecticut, during his teen years. He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts in painting. Initially focusing on music, he wrote Jane Morgan’s hit 1970 country single, “A Girl Named Johnny Cash,” before releasing his own record. His satirical comedy music led him to open for artists like Randy Newman, Frank Zappa, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen. In the late 1970s, Mull’s breakthrough role as Garth Gimble on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” launched his legendary comedy career.
Martin Mull was a comedic force and one of the finest talents to grace our screens. A true chameleon, he portrayed every type of character imaginable. He often played authority figures with well-groomed mustaches and perfectly placed spectacles or used his serious-sounding voice to portray over-the-top progressives. His roles as Colonel Mustard in “Clue” and Gene Parmesan in “Arrested Development” are endlessly quotable, and his sense of humor earned him the center square spot on “Hollywood Squares” in its final season. Mull’s extensive resume includes a career that many could only dream of, and he was as wonderful off-screen as he was on.
Versatility and Legacy
Mull elevated any project he appeared in, whether as the villainous buffoon in the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie “How the West Was Fun” or in his Emmy-nominated guest role on “Veep” as the political aide with Alzheimer’s, Bob Bradley. He mastered satire, irony, and dry humor, and his distinctive voice made him a favorite guest for animated series like “The Simpsons,” “Family Guy,” “Dexter’s Laboratory,” “The Wild Thornberrys,” “American Dad,” and “Bob’s Burgers.”
Mull once joked, “A cult following is a nice way of saying very few people like you,” poking fun at his fans. However, the collective mourning following his passing shows that his cult following was much larger than he let on. Martin Mull was a singular talent who helped shape the humor of a generation, and he will be sorely missed.
May he rest in peace.
