‘Arrested Development’ star Martin Mull dies aged 80

2 July, 2024

Martin Mull

Actor and comedian Martin Mull, best known for his work on sitcoms including Arrested Development, Sabrina The Teenage Witch and Roseanne, has died at 80.

The actor died at home last Thursday (June 27) following a “valiant fight against a long illness,” according to his daughter, Maggie Mull.

In a tribute on Instagram, Maggie 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 was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials. 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.”

One of Martin’s breaks came in 1976, playing Garth Gimble on the satirical soap opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. He also appeared in two further spin-offs from this, including Fernwood 2 Nights. Before this, he’d got his break as a songwriter and musical comedian, opening for Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen in the ‘70s.

A role as Colonel Mustard in the comedy Clue followed, before work as voice actor on ‘Red Roof Inn’ commercials followed.

By the ‘90s, Martin worked on Roseanne, playing the titular character’s boss Leon Carp and later, appeared in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, where he played Principal Willard Kraft.

Martin was also well known for appearing in Arrested Development, playing private detective and master of disguise Gene Parmesan who popped up in surprising places.

Other shows in which he appeared included The Simpsons, Family Guy, Law And Order: Special Victims Unit, The Golden Girls, Two And A Half Men and Veep.

Martin earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy, for ‘Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series’ after appearing in four episodes of HBO’s Veep in 2016.

Born in Chicago, Martin studied painting and graduated in 1965 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BA in Fine Arts.

As well as his daughter, Maggie, he leaves his wife, Wendy Haas who he married in 1982.

Tributes to Martin have poured in on social media. Eric Idle described him as “a wonderful man” while Veep’s Andrea Savage called him “a true artist in every sense of the word.”

The Simpsons’ Harry Shearer also paid tribute, recalling their work together. “Always a treat to be with him,” he wrote. Check out some more of the tributes below:

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