Martin Mull death: Comic actor of 'Roseanne' and 'Arrested Development' dies at 80 after prolonged illness

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Legendary comic actor Martin Eugene Mull, known professionally as Martin Mull, died on June 27, 2024, at the age of 80, following a prolonged illness. Born on August 18, 1943, Mull was renowned for his work on 'Roseanne' and also excelled as a musician and painter

Martin initially gained recognition on screen with 'Mary Hartman' and became best known for his roles in 'Clue', 'Arrested Development', and 'Sabrina The Teenage Witch'. Confirmation of his death came from his daughter, Maggie Mull, who shared the news on Instagram.

Martin Mull's daughter Maggie Mull shares news of his death

 According to an Instagram post by Martin Mull's daughter, Maggie, on Friday, June 28, she shared the circumstances surrounding his death and expressed her grief, "I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness." 

Reflecting on his talents, she added, "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." 

Maggie concluded her poignant tribute with a touching sentiment that underscored his profound impact: "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."

The post featured a black and white photograph of Martin, dressed in a black shirt and pants, wearing a cap, and comfortably seated in a chair. By his side, a puppy was also seated, posing alongside him.

Martin Mull’s co-star Jennifer Tilly pays a heartfelt tribute after his death

On X, formerly known as Twitter, heartfelt tributes have begun flowing in for Martin from his fans and former colleagues, including Jennifer Tilly.

In her tweet, she shared a photo from the film 'Rented Lips,' in which she co-starred with him, highlighting his character and describing him as a remarkable actor, "So sad to hear of the passing of Martin Mull. I worked with him a long time ago on a film called “Rented Lips”  that he wrote and also starred in. He was such a witty charismatic and kind person. As an actress just starting out, it really meant a lot to me to be able to work with such a wonderful actor."

Martin Mull's career in acting and music

The actor gained prominence in the 1970s through his role in the soap opera satire series ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,' along with its spinoffs 'Fernwood 2 Night’ and ‘America 2 Night’, as per People.

His musical career also flourished, highlighted by compositions such as ‘A Girl Named Johnny Cash,’ famously recorded by Jane Morgan and reaching No 61 on Billboard’s country charts. 

Martin seamlessly integrated his musical prowess with his work in film and television, composing the theme song for the 1970 series The 51st State and serving as a music producer for the 1971 film Jump. In his later career, he made notable appearances and starred in series like ‘Two and a Half Men’, ‘Arrested Development’, ‘The Ranch’, and ‘The Cool Kids’. 

His guest role on Veep earned him an Emmy nomination in 2016. Martin leaves behind a lasting legacy in film with roles in ‘Clue’, ‘Far Out Man’, and ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’. Recent television credits include guest spots on ‘Not Dead Yet’, ‘Grace and Frankie’, and ‘The Afterparty’.

Martin Mull's death left his fans in mourning

Martin's death prompted his fans to mourn, cherishing his memorable works and iconic roles that have deeply resonated with them, as per Facebook.

One fan mourned, "I have to say, I have never seen so very many responses for anyone’s passing As I have today for Martin Mull. He was a wonderful man."

A second added, "So sad to hear this. His work brought such joy and laughter through the years. I still have all of his albums from when I was a teenager." 

A third exclaimed, "Is it like killing everyone’s childhood month or something? I loved him in Roseanne and Sabrina and not dead yet." A fourth added, "RIP Martin, A Legend and one of a kind comedy man."

A fifth asserted, "RIP Principal Kraft! Thank you for decades worth of laughs! My condolences to his family." A last user added, "He was great on Roseanne as Leon. He made a great professor mustard on clue. His other shows were great too. Rip."

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