Martin Mull, the versatile comedic actor known for his roles in “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “Roseanne,” passed away on June 27, 2024, at the age of 80. Mull’s career spanned several decades, encompassing acting, music, and art, leaving a lasting impact on various entertainment industries.
Mull was born on August 18, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to North Ridgeville, Ohio, when he was two years old and later to New Canaan, Connecticut, when he was 15. Mull initially found success as a songwriter, penning the novelty song “A Girl Named Johnny Cash,” which became a hit for singer Jane Morgan in 1970.
In the early 1970s, Mull transitioned to performing and released several comedy albums. His parody song “Dueling Tubas,” a comedic take on “Dueling Banjos,” charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973. He continued to produce comedy albums, with two of them, “I’m Everyone I’ve Ever Loved” (1977) and “Sex & Violins” (1978), making it to the Billboard 200.
Mull’s breakthrough in television came with his role as Garth Gimble in the satirical soap opera “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” (1976-1977). He further cemented his status with the spin-off shows “Fernwood 2 Night” (1977) and “America 2-Night” (1978), where he played Barth Gimble, Garth’s twin brother. These shows highlighted his unique brand of humor and garnered a cult following.
From 1991 to 1997, Mull portrayed Leon Carp, Roseanne Barr’s gay boss, on the hit sitcom “Roseanne.” This role was groundbreaking at the time, as it treated his character’s sexual orientation matter-of-factly. Mull also appeared as Principal Willard Kraft on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” from 1997 to 2000.
In addition to his television work, Mull appeared in several films, including “FM” (1978), “Mr. Mom” (1983), “Clue” (1985), and “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993). His versatility as an actor was evident in these varied roles, from a DJ in “FM” to the iconic Colonel Mustard in “Clue”.
Mull was also an accomplished painter. His work, which began gaining attention in the 1970s, often combined elements of photorealism, pop art, and collage. One of his paintings, “After Dinner Drinks” (2008), was used as the cover art for Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s Grammy-nominated album “Love Has Come for You”.
Throughout his career, Mull received several accolades, including a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2016 for his guest role on HBO’s “Veep”. His contributions to comedy, television, and art have left an indelible mark on the entertainment world.
Martin Mull passed away at his home in Los Angeles after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, singer Wendy Haas, and their daughter Maggie, who is a co-executive producer for “Family Guy”.
