Martin Mull dead at 80: Roseanne star passes away at home following 'valiant fight against a long illness,' his daughter confirms
Comedic actor Martin Mull died at the age of 80 on Thursday.
The star, who played Colonel Mustard in Clue, Roseanne’s boss Leon Carp in the sitcom Roseanne and starred with Fred Willard on Norman Lear‘s Fernwood 2 Nite, passed away at home after a 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 alongside a black-and-white snap of her father.
'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,' she concluded.
Comedic actor Martin Mull died at the age of 80 on Thursday; (pictured 2018)
The star played Colonel Mustard in Clue, Roseanne’s boss Leon Carp in the sitcom Roseanne (pictured) and starred with Fred Willard on Norman Lear‘s Fernwood 2 Nite, passed away at home after a battling a 'long illness'
Mull also played Principal Willard Kraft on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch from 1997-2000.
His co-star, Melissa Joan Hart, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram on Friday, honoring the late actor.
'Rest in Peace my friend. The incredible #MartinMull (Principal Kraft) has left us for his eternal rest,' the actress wrote alongside a throwback snap of the pair on set of Sabrina.
'I have such fond memories of working with him and being in awe of his huge body of work which before #SabrinaTheTeemageWitch included #Roseanne and #MrMom as the projects I knew him from.
'And after our sabrina days, his body of work multiplied with guest star and recurring roles on huge shows as well as features and animation. 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 art work hanging in my home!,' she concluded.
In 2016, Mull received an Emmy nomination for his guest role as political aide Bob Bradley in Veep.
'I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,' Mull's daughter Maggie Mull wrote on Instagram on Friday
Mull also played Principal Willard Kraft alongside Melissa Joan Hart on Sabrina: The Teenage Witch from 1997-2000
Melissa Joan Hart paid a heartfelt tribute to Martin via her Instagram on Friday
Vanessa Lachey (L) and Mull in the short-lived Dads from 2014
More recently, he has made guest appearances on The Afterparty, Not Dead Yet, and Grace and Frankie.
Martin Eugene Mull was born in Chicago to an actress-director mother and a carpenter father, per Variety.
At the age of 2, his family relocated to North Ridgeville, Ohio, and when he was 15, they moved again to New Canaan, Connecticut.
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.
He initially entered show business as a songwriter, writing 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.
He was a series regular as Ed Munn on The Ellen Show, Ellen DeGeneres's 2001-02 sitcom that aired for 18 episodes on CBS.
Mull and Fred Willard's characters married on Roseanne
Melissa Joan Hart and Martin Mull on Sabrina The Teenage Witch in 2001
Mull appeared on Not Dead Yet with Gina Rodriguez in 2023
Martin Mull and His Fabulous Furniture perform at The Great Southeast Music Hall on May 22, 1974 Friday
From 1998 to 2004, Mull was a regular on the game show Hollywood Squares, appearing in 425 episodes, frequently occupying the coveted center square.
On Fox’s short-lived 2013 sitcom Dads, Mull played the father of star Seth Green’s character.
In film, Mull starred alongside Tim Curry in 1985’s Clue and had notable roles in Paramount’s 1980 film Serial, as well as appearances in Mr. Mom and Mrs. Doubtfire.
His final role was in Apple’s The Afterparty.
