The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a versatile and much-loved figure, Martin Mull, who passed away at the age of 80 following a long and courageous battle with illness. Mull, best known for his roles in ‘Roseanne’ and ‘Arrested Development’, left a significant mark on American television and art as a respected actor, comedian, painter, and producer.
Reminiscing Martin Mull
Born Martin Eugene Mull on August 18, 1943, he developed a spectacular career that moved across various creative fields. Mull was not just a comic actor, he also found success as a musician and painter. He first gained prominence on television through his appearances on ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ and its spin-off ‘Fernwood 2 Night.’
Numerous roles followed, garnering him further recognition. The list includes memorable characters such as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 film ‘Clue’, Leon Carp on ‘Roseanne’, Willard Kraft on ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’, Vlad Masters / Vlad Plasmius on ‘Danny Phantom’, and Gene Parmesan on ‘Arrested Development’. Mull also made recurring appearances on ‘Two and a Half Men’ playing Russell, the drug-using, humorous pharmacist.
In his personal life, Martin Mull was twice divorced and married singer Wendy Haas. Together they had a daughter, Maggie, who currently works as a co-executive producer for ‘Family Guy’.
In a 2010 interview on ‘The Green Room with Paul Provenza,’ Mull identified as an agnostic. He stated he didn’t begrudge others their belief systems but concluded that organized religion did not align with his perspective. He believed more harm had been brought to the planet through organized religion than any other single invention.
Mull breathed his last on June 27, 2024, at his Los Angeles residence. A representative commented that he “fought valiantly against a long illness”. His legacy will continue to inspire those in comedy, acting, and the arts for decades to come.
