Martin Mull, the comedic actor, musician and artist who gained widespread consideration within the Seventies in reveals akin to “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” and “Fernwood 2-Evening,” and remained energetic in tv and movie over the subsequent half-century, died on Thursday at his dwelling in Los Angeles. He was 80.
His spouse, Wendy Mull, confirmed his loss of life. He died after a protracted sickness, his household stated. No trigger was given.
In “Mary Hartman,” Mr. Mull performed Garth Gimble, a home abuser who met his demise by being impaled on the star atop an aluminum Christmas tree.
He starred within the present’s subsequent spinoff, “Fernwood 2-Evening,” a parody of speak reveals that aired in 1977. He performed the talk-show host Barth Gimble, the dual brother of Garth Gimble.
“With an undistinguished blond mustache, which can or might not be meant as a joke, Barth copes manic‐depressively with a shaky job scenario and a few hazy allegations about costs pending towards him in Florida,” The New York Occasions wrote in a evaluate in 1977 of the present’s opening week. “Barth will say solely that his lawyer thinks he has ‘a fairly darn good case for entrapment.’”
He was additionally recognized for his roles in “Clue” (1985) and the tv reveals “Roseanne” and “Arrested Improvement.” He additionally performed the character Bob Bradley, an aide to the primary character within the political sitcom “Veep.”
Extra not too long ago, Mr. Mull appeared within the Fox tv sequence “The Cool Youngsters,” a few group of rule-breaking mates dwelling in a retirement group.
Martin E. Mull was born on Aug. 18, 1943, in Chicago to Harold and Betty Mull. He earned levels from the Rhode Island Faculty of Design. His work appeared in gallery reveals and within the Whitney and Metropolitan museums.
Along with his spouse, he’s survived by a daughter, Maggie Mull.
In a 2018 interview with The Occasions, he described his strategy to his artwork as “going again and discovering previous Life and Look magazines, individuals’s household photographs and issues like that, after which I collage from these, make my very own photos after which paint them.”
A full obituary will comply with.
Alain Delaquérière contributed analysis.
