Introduction
Martin Mull was a legendary American comedian, actor, musician, painter, and writer. He gained fame in the 1970s through the TV show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and also participated in the show "Fernwood 2 Night." He played many roles in films, such as Colonel Mustard in "Clue," Willard Kraft in "Sabrina the Teenage Witch," Vlad Masters in "Danny Phantom," Gene Parmesan in "Arrested Development," and Russell in "Two and a Half Men."
Early Life, Family, and Education
Martin Mull was born in Chicago. His mother, Betty Mull, was an actress and director, and his father, Harold Mull, was an acoustics engineer. When Martin was 2, his family moved to North Ridgeville, Ohio, where they lived for 15 years before relocating to New Canaan, Connecticut. He attended New Canaan High School and graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1967 and later earned a Master of Fine Arts.
Personal Life
Martin Mull was married three times. His first marriage was to Kristin Johnson, his second to Sandra Baker, and his third to Wendy Haas. He had a daughter, Maggie, with Wendy Haas. Maggie later became the executive co-producer of the show "Family Guy" in 2021. In an interview with Paul Provenza on "The Green Room," Mull identified as agnostic.
Professional Career
Music
Mull wrote "Jane Morgan" and the country single "A Girl Named Johnny Cash" in 1970, which reached 61st on Billboard’s Country Chart. This success led him to start his own recording career. Throughout the 1970s, he entertained audiences both in the studio and with live performances. His famous live performances included shows with Randy Newman and Sandy Denny at Boston Symphony Hall in 1973, Frank Zappa at Austin’s Armadillo World Headquarters in 1973, and Billy Joel in Wilkes-Barre in 1974. His self-titled debut album featured renowned musicians like Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Levon Helm, and Keith Spring.
Acting
Mull played Garth Gimble on the television show "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in 1976. He continued his career with roles in "Fernwood 2 Night" (1977) and "America 2-Night" (1978). He made his film debut in 1978, playing Eric Swan in "FM." He played supporting roles in "Mr. Mom" and "Clue" and had a rare leading role in "Serial." Mull also appeared in commercials for Michelob and Pizza Hut and guest-starred on the game show "Hollywood Squares." One of his major roles was Gene Parmesan in "Arrested Development."
Art
Mull was a photorealistic painter with skills in pop art and collage styles. His artwork has been featured in various collections, including the 1995 book "Paintings Drawings and Words." In 2008, one of his paintings was featured on the cover of Joyce Carol Oates’ book "My Sister, My Love."
Death
Martin Mull's wife, Wendy Mull, confirmed his death, stating he had been ill for a long time. The exact cause of his death was not disclosed.
Reactions to Martin's Death
- Maggie Mull: “Martin was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and for doing Red Roof Inc commercials. He would find that joke funny. He was never not funny.”
- Jennifer Tilly on X: “Martin was such a witty, charismatic, and kind person.”
- Will McKinley: “Farewell to the multi-talented and always hilarious Martin Mull.”
- Paul Feig: “Oh man, this is so sad. Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy. I was lucky enough to act with him on The Jackie Thomas Show and treasure every moment being with a legend. Fernwood Tonight was so special in my life. RIP Martin.”
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