CINEFILER

Martin Mull

Born
August 18, 1943
Offbeat funnyman Martin Mull was born in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of three children, and raised in Ohio. The blond-maned, blue-eyed comedian with the sad, droopy mustache first came in contact with the arts by honing in on his innate talents as a painter. In order to pay his art school tuition, he started organizing bands. At around the same time, he discovered that stand-up comedy was another way to allow his creative juices to flow. Martin's early recognition as a humorist led to a recording contract, and, over the years, he would be Grammy-nominated several times for a number of eccentric comedy albums. His gimmick and allure came in the form of a dry, humorless delivery and a bland, highly conservative-looking demeanor, which masked a sly, witty and ultra-hip philosophy. Gaining popularity in the 1970s, he finally broke into TV with the cult soap opera parody "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" (1976) in which he played Garth Gimble, a volatile wife abuser whose comeuppance occurred in the form of an aluminum Christmas tree (impaled) in his home closet. Martin was so popular on the show that he was resurrected in the spin-off series "Fernwood 2 Night" (1977) as twin brother Barth Gimble, who was a co-host of the town's television program along with Fred Willard's Jerry Hubbard character. After this peak, Martin became a sought-after guest on the talk show circuit, not to mention variety specials and TV movies. He tried his hand at producing and starring in his own sitcom "Domestic Life" (1984) but the series failed. He also added his special brand of merriment to films over the years, some of them being decent, such as FM (1978), Serial (1980), Mr. Mom (1983) and Clue (1985) in the role of the tweedy-looking Colonel Mustard, while most have been either formula schtick or just plain drivel, as in Take This Job and Shove It (1981), Rented Lips (1988), which he produced and wrote, Cutting Class (1989), Far Out Man (1990) with Cheech & Chong, and Mr. Write (1994). Martin's first passion has always been art and the distinguished multi-media artist's work has been showcased in galleries throughout the world. He also authored the book "Painting, Drawing and World," which is a compilation of ten years of his work. Mull is married to a composer and musician, Wendy, and they have a daughter. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh
Known For
Mrs. Doubtfire
(1993)
Justin Gregory
Clue
(1985)
Colonel Mustard
The Player
(1992)
Martin Mull
Jingle All the Way
(1996)
D.J.
Private School
(1983)
Drug Store Clerk (uncredited)
Mr. Mom
(1983)
Ron
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(1998)
Richard Rich
Killers
(2010)
Holbrook
The Aristocrats
(2005)
Self
Ski Patrol
(1990)
Maris
My Bodyguard
(1980)
Mr. Peache
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
(2018)
Modern Doug
Bad Manners
(1984)
Warren Fitzpatrick
Relative Strangers
(2006)
Jeffry Morton
Edie & Pen
(1996)
Johnnie Sparkle
Twilight Theatre
(1982)
Full Filmography
Acting
FM
(1978)
Eric Swan
A Different Approach
(1978)
The Chevy Chase National Humor Test
(1979)
Serial
(1980)
Harvey
My Bodyguard
(1980)
Mr. Peache
Take This Job and Shove It
(1981)
Dick Ebersol
Twilight Theatre
(1982)
Magic with the Stars
(1982)
Mr. Mom
(1983)
Ron
Private School
(1983)
Drug Store Clerk (uncredited)
Grandpa, Will You Run with Me?
(1983)
Self - Sketch Performer
Sunset Limousine
(1983)
Mel Shaver (uncredited)
Bad Manners
(1984)
Warren Fitzpatrick
Clue
(1985)
Colonel Mustard
The History of White People in America
(1985)
Host
Lots of Luck
(1985)
Frank Maris
California Girls
(1985)
Elliot
The Boss' Wife
(1986)
Tony Dugdale
The History of White People in America: Volume II
(1986)
Himself - Host
Pecos Bill
(1986)
Governor Ambrose Peasley
O.C. and Stiggs
(1987)
Pat Coletti
Flicks
(1987)
Tang / Arthur Lyle
Home Is Where the Hart Is
(1987)
Carson Boundy
Rented Lips
(1987)
Archie Powell
Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge
(1987)
Portrait of a White Marriage
(1988)
Martin Mull
Cutting Class
(1989)
William Carson III
Think Big
(1989)
Dr. Bruekner
Ski Patrol
(1990)
Maris
Far Out Man
(1990)
Psychiatrist
Ted & Venus
(1991)
Ted's Attorney
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth
(1991)
Self
The Player
(1992)
Martin Mull
Miracle Beach
(1992)
Donald Burbank
Dance with Death
(1992)
Art
Mrs. Doubtfire
(1993)
Justin Gregory
The Day My Parents Ran Away
(1993)
Norman Roberts
Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's
(1993)
“Love Thy Neighbor" Host
How the West Was Fun
(1994)
Bart Gafooley
Mr. Write
(1994)
Dan Barnes
Jingle All the Way
(1996)
D.J.
Edie & Pen
(1996)
Johnnie Sparkle
Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen
(1996)
Quote Reader
Beverly Hills Family Robinson
(1997)
Doug Robinson
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
(1998)
Richard Rich
Zack and Reba
(1998)
Virgil Payne
Yesterday's Tomorrows
(1999)
Self
Attention Shoppers
(2000)
Charles
Sister Mary Explains It All
(2001)
Skeptical Husband
The Year That Trembled
(2002)
Wayne Simonelli
A Boyfriend for Christmas
(2004)
Martin Grant
The Aristocrats
(2005)
Self
Come Away Home
(2005)
Barney
Relative Strangers
(2006)
Jeffry Morton
Killers
(2010)
Holbrook
And They're Off
(2011)
Ken
Oliver's Ghost
(2011)
Clive
Tim's Vermeer
(2013)
Himself
Ha/lf
(2013)
Grandpa Rich
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
(2018)
Modern Doug
Melons
(2022)
Mr. Sunnyside
Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
(2022)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Water is Finally Blue: The Untold Story of Robert Altman's O.C. and Stiggs
(2023)
Sound
Writing
Production
Data provided by TMDB