Martin Mull, Iconic Comedy Actor, Dead At 80

Martin Mull’s daughter Maggie expressed what this loss meant to her personally via her Instagram, saying, “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.”

As touched on in Maggie’s post, Martin Mull was not just an actor but also a musician and a painter. He clearly had a lifelong passion for all things creative. Maggie went on to say, “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.”

Martin Mull broke into acting in the 1970s through the TV show Fernwood 2 Night and has consistently been in some of the most beloved sitcoms of each decade since that time. From Arrested Development, to Roseanne, to Veep, Mull’s brand of humor continued to resonate with audiences through the years and give him a place in so many popular shows.

Though it is his cherished acting work that has made Martin Mull a household name, he actually got his start creatively through songwriting. He is responsible for writing the 1970s country single “A Girl Named Johnny Cash” which Jane Morgan performed. His creative passions were diverse and demonstrated his talent in an array of mediums.

Martin Mull’s comedy was not just for laughs either but even helped further conversations on topical social issues. In the popular ‘90s sitcom Roseanne, Mull played the titular character Roseanne’s boss Leon, whose character eventually came out as gay. Leon remained a series regular throughout the duration of the show’s run from that point on, giving audiences a positive and accepting depiction of a gay man during a time when identifying in such a way was far less accepted than today.

However, Martin Mull has had too many iconic roles to reduce him to being known for any specific one. Depending on who you ask, you are sure to find a variety of answers regarding which of his characters has had the biggest impact. Many would no doubt point to his movie work, portraying Colonel Mustard in the movie adaptation of the famous board game Clue. Released in 1985, the movie would go on to become a cult classic comedy.

Other major projects that Martin Mull got to be a part of include Two and a Half Men, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Ellen Show. There is no doubt that even with Mull’s passing, he has left an indelible mark on the world of television through his many memorable roles that will leave fans with fond memories of his work.

Martin Mull’s daughter Maggie continues his legacy in her own right, having forged a career for herself as a TV writer and producer, working in the same industry that made her dad famous. Mull provided audiences with many laughs over the years through his characters. Clearly his work left a strong impression on his family through their own career pursuits, and it has absolutely made a positive impact.