Martin Mull, the comedic actor, musician and entertainer who rose to fame in the 1970s on shows like “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “Fernwood 2-Night” and remained active in television and film for half a century, died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 80.
His wife, Wendy Mull, confirmed his death. He died after a long illness, his family said. No cause was given.
In “Mary Hartman,” Mr. Mull plays Garth Gimble, a domestic abuser who dies by being impaled on the star atop an aluminum Christmas tree.
He starred in the series’ next spin-off, “Fernwood 2-Night”, a talk show parody that aired in 1977. He played talk show host Barth Gimble, Garth Gimble’s twin brother.
“With his unassuming blond mustache, which may or may not be intended as a joke, Barth manically copes with a precarious job situation and vague allegations about pending charges against him in Florida,” wrote the New York Times in a review of the show’s first week in 1977. “Barth will say only that his lawyer thinks he has ‘a damn good case for entrapment.'”
He is also known for his roles in “Clue” (1985) and the television series “Roseanne” and “Arrested Development.” He also played the character Bob Bradley, an assistant to the title character in the political sitcom “Veep.”
Most recently, Mr. Mull appeared in the Fox television series “The Cool Kids,” which tells the story of a group of friends who break the rules and live in a retirement community.
Martin E. Mull was born on August 18, 1943, in Chicago, the son of Harold and Betty Mull. He is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. His work has been exhibited in galleries and at the Whitney Museum and the Metropolitan Museum.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Maggie Mull.
In a 2018 interview with The Times, he described his approach to his art as follows: “I go back and find old Life and Look magazines and family photos and things like that, and then I make collages out of those, create my own images and then paint them.”
A full obituary will follow.
Alain Delaquérière contributed to the research.
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News Source : www.nytimes.com
