S Poddar
Martin Mull, celebrated for his unique and witty comedy style, has passed away at the age of 80. His daughter, Maggie Mull, announced that he died peacefully at home on Thursday after bravely battling a prolonged illness.
Mull rose to national prominence in the 1970s with his roles in the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoff Fernwood Tonight, where he portrayed the talk show host Barth Gimble. His daughter shared in an Instagram post, “He excelled in every creative field imaginable and even had a sense of humor about his Red Roof Inn commercials. My dad’s wit was unending, and he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues, fellow artists, comedians, musicians, and countless dogs who adored him.”
Born in Chicago and raised in Ohio and Connecticut, Mull pursued his passion for art in Rhode Island and Rome. In the 1970s, he combined his musical talents and comedic flair in Hollywood’s trendy clubs. Reflecting on his career, Mull recounted, “In 1976, I was performing at the Roxy on the Sunset Strip when Norman Lear saw me. He cast me as the wife beater on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and a few months later, I had my own show.”
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Mull appeared in films such as Mr. Mom and Clue, and became a recurring character on Roseanne. He later gained further acclaim for his role as private investigator Gene Parmesan on Arrested Development and earned an Emmy nomination in 2016 for his guest appearance on Veep. Speaking about his career, Mull expressed pride in his work on Veep and recognized the collective achievements throughout his career, tracing back to Fernwood Tonight.
Mull’s talent and kindness left a lasting impact on his peers. Director Paul Feig, known for Bridesmaids, paid tribute to him, saying, “Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy. I was fortunate to act with him on The Jackie Thomas Show and cherished every moment with a legend. Fernwood Tonight was profoundly influential in my life.”
