Martin Mull — the comedic actor best known for performances in series like “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” “Fernwood 2 Night” and “Roseanne” — has passed away.
He was 80.
Mull’s daughter, Maggie Mull, posted the news on Instagram, writing he passed away at home on June 27 “after a valiant fight against a long illness.”
“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,” Maggie Mull wrote. “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.”
Born in Chicago in 1943, Mull was raised in Ohio and Connecticut before graduating from Rhode Island School of Design. He entered show business as a songwriter, writing for artists like country star Jane Morgan.
He began acting in the 1970s, landing his first big role as Garth Gimble and Barth Gimble on the 1976 show “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” while also appearing as Barth Gimble in the spin-off talk show parodies “Fernwood 2 Night” and “America 2 Night.”
Mull would appear in other popular TV shows like “Taxi,” “Domestic Life” and “The Golden Girls.” He had a popular stint on “Roseanne,” playing the title character’s boss Leon Carp.
He would also appear in 1980s films “Mr. Mom” and “Clue.” He continued to work regularly in the 21st century on hit shows like “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Arrested Development,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Community,” “Veep,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Grace and Frankie.”
