Comedic actor Martin Mull passed away at the age of 80 on Thursday. Known for his roles as Colonel Mustard in Clue, Leon Carp on the sitcom Roseanne, and his work with Fred Willard on Norman Lear’s Fernwood 2 Nite, Mull died at home after battling a long illness, according to his daughter Maggie Mull.
“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,” Maggie wrote on Instagram. “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,” she continued, sharing a black-and-white photo of her father. “My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists, comedians, musicians, and—the sign of a truly exceptional person—by many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously,” she concluded.
Mull also portrayed Principal Willard Kraft on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch from 1997 to 2000. His co-star, Melissa Joan Hart, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. “Rest in Peace my friend. The incredible #MartinMull (Principal Kraft) has left us for his eternal rest,” Hart wrote, posting a throwback photo of the two on set. “I have such fond memories of working with him and being in awe of his huge body of work,” she added. “He once told me that he takes every job he’s offered just in case the train comes to an end, which in this business tends to halt quickly. But he was an artist who liked to paint and build things with his hands, a musician, and a wonderful man who I am better for knowing. He will be missed but this world has benefited from his being here. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. I will continue to cherish the Martin Mull artwork hanging in my home,” she concluded.
In 2016, Mull received an Emmy nomination for his guest role as political aide Bob Bradley in Veep. Born Martin Eugene Mull in Chicago to an actress-director mother and a carpenter father, his family relocated to North Ridgeville, Ohio, when he was 2, and then to New Canaan, Connecticut, when he was 15. Mull pursued his passion for painting, earning both a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Initially entering show business as a songwriter, Mull wrote Jane Morgan’s 1970 country single “A Girl Named Johnny Cash,” which reached No. 61 on Billboard’s country charts. He soon launched his own recording career, composed the theme for the 1970 series The 51st State, and served as the music producer for the 1971 film Jump. Mull transitioned into acting with his breakout role in Norman Lear’s soap spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1977 and its spinoff Fernwood 2 Night.
Mull was a series regular as Ed Munn on The Ellen Show, Ellen DeGeneres’s 2001-02 sitcom. He was also a regular on the game show Hollywood Squares from 1998 to 2004, frequently occupying the center square. On Fox’s 2013 sitcom Dads, he played the father of Seth Green’s character. Mull’s film roles included Clue, Serial, Mr. Mom, and Mrs. Doubtfire, with his final role in Apple’s The Afterparty.
Mull’s creative legacy spans television, film, music, and art, leaving behind a profound impact on multiple fields and countless admirers.