Martin Mull, the comedian and actor best known for his roles in Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Tip, Arrested Development It is Roseannedied. He was 80 years old.
The beloved actor died Thursday at his home, according to his daughter, TV writer and producer Maggie. Mull died “after a valiant fight against a long illness,” she said. The illness was not disclosed.
“He was known for excelling in every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials,” Maggie wrote in the caption of a black-and-white photo of her late father reclining in his leather chair and rubbing a dog’s belly. “He would find this joke funny. He never stopped being funny. My father will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists, comedians and musicians and — the sign of a truly exceptional person — by his many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously.”
Mull made an indelible mark in 1976 when he appeared in Norman Lear’s series of satirical novels, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartmanas Garth and Barth Gimble, and later in the 1977 spinoff, Fernwood 2 Nights. He made his film debut the following year in the comedy, FM radiobut it is his role as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 mystery comedy, Tipthis made him a clutch performer.
Mull would go on to star in a number of film and TV projects, including as Leon Carp in RoseanneGene Parmesan in Arrested development and director Willard Kraft in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Mull made some TV history when his character appeared Roseanne married Fred Willard’s character Scott during season 8 in 1995 to mark one of TV’s first gay weddings.
He has had dozens of guest appearances and recurring roles, including as the hilarious but ethically compromised pharmacist Russell in Two and a half Men.
Mull received his only Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2016, when he played Bob Bradley, a political operative, on the HBO show. Vice president. It later appeared on Netflix The ranch, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Gracie and Frankie and he starred in the short-lived sitcom, The cool kidsstarring Mull, David Alan Grier and the late Leslie Jordan.
There was no shortage of talent. Mull also played guitar in nightclubs, often singing parodies, and later opened for Randy Newman and Bruce Springsteen, among others. He released his self-titled album in 1972, and his “Dueling Tubas” (a parody of “Dueling Banjos”) reached number 92 on the BillboardIt’s on the list of the 100 best.
He was also an avid painter. In fact, he studied at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fine arts and painting.
Mull is survived by his wife, Wendy, and daughter, Maggie.
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