Martin Mull

Martin Mull

Birth : 1943-08-18, Chicago, Illinois, USA

History

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

Profile

Martin Mull
Martin Mull

Movies

Who Done It: The Clue Documentary
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Clue (1985) has become a cult classic film and is loved by multiple generations. Yet there has never been a documentary created to tell the behind the scenes stories...until now.
Melons
Mr. Sunnyside
A jolly, but meek, grocery store manager learns to stand up for himself after a sexual harassment misunderstanding brands him as public enemy #1.
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
'Modern' Douglas Kenney
The National Lampoon name became globally recognized after the monumental success of Animal House—but before the glory days, it was a scrappy yet divinely subversive magazine and radio show that introduced the world to comedic geniuses like Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, John Belushi, and Gilda Radner. The driving force behind National Lampoon was Doug Kenney, and his truly wild and crazy story unfolds in A Futile and Stupid Gesture from Harvard to Hollywood to Caddyshack and beyond.
Tim's Vermeer
Himself
Tim Jenison, a Texas based inventor, attempts to solve one of the greatest mysteries in all art: How did Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer manage to paint so photo-realistically 150 years before the invention of photography? Spanning a decade, Jenison's adventure takes him to Holland, on a pilgrimage to the North coast of Yorkshire to meet artista David Hockney, and eventually even to Buckingham Palace. The epic research project Jenison embarques on is as extraordinary as what he discovers.
Oliver's Ghost
Clive
Eleven-year-old Oliver has a unique ability to see "full-bodied apparitions," otherwise known as ghosts. When his family moves from the bustling city to an older home in the suburbs, only Oliver is able to see the spirit of Clive Rutledge (Martin Mull), the previous owner. Clive causes every manner of destruction to force Oliver and his family to leave. But perhaps Oliver's special talent, along with the help of a kind neighbor (Rhea Perlman), will show Clive how to release his earthly regrets so he can leave the house and the family in peace.
And They're Off
Ken
A comedy centered on a failed horse trainer who desperately wants to be back in the winner's circle.
Killers
Holbrook
When an elite assassin marries a beautiful computer whiz after a whirlwind romance, he gives up the gun and settles down with his new bride. That is, until he learns that someone from his past has put a contract out on his life.
Relative Strangers
Jeffry Morton
An uptight professional meets his lower-class biological parents for the first time.
Come Away Home
Barney
Twelve-year-old Annie Lamm's first day of summer break quickly turns into a disaster. She realizes that her parents have not only decided to fly her to Hilton Head Island during their second honeymoon, but they also plan to coerce her to spend half her summer with her 76-year-old Grandpa Donald whom she hardly even knows.
The Aristocrats
Self
One hundred superstar comedians tell the same very, VERY dirty, filthy joke--one shared privately by comics since Vaudeville.
A Boyfriend for Christmas
Martin Grant
Holly Grant has learned a long time ago not to rely on Santa Claus leaving Mr. Right in her Christmas stocking. But Holly is in for a surprise when a handsome man arrives on her doorstep with a twinkle in his eye and Yuletide tree in tow.
The Year That Trembled
Wayne Simonelli
The Year That Trembled is a coming-of-age story set in 1970 in the shadow of Kent State that focuses on a group of young people facing the Vietnam Draft Lottery.
Sister Mary Explains It All
Skeptical Husband
As Sister Mary delivers a lecture on sin and its consequences, she's interrupted by several of her former students, who have little positive to say about how a Catholic education has impacted their lives.
Attention Shoppers
Charles
An actor's promotional appearance at a new shopping centre is ruined when a popular rival shows up at a nearby store.
Yesterday's Tomorrows
Showtime's "In the 20th Century" is a millennium-related strand of feature-length documentaries in which famous directors take on major subjects of their choosing. In the third of the six films, "Yesterday's Tomorrows," filmmaker Barry Levinson delves into what we, as Americans, thought the future would be as we traveled through the 20th century. Houses and cars of the future, the promise of technology, and the other hopes and dreams of the early part of the century gave way to the fears and anxieties brought about by the atomic age and the Hollywood disaster films that followed. Soon we wondered if we could control technology, or if it would control us. This film is by turns light-hearted and thoughtful, and rare historical and archival film, produced by government and industry, alternates with on-screen interviews with people as diverse as consumer advocate Ralph Nader, cartoonist Matt Groening, futurist Alvin Toffler, comedienne Phyllis Diller, and actor Martin Mull.
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish
Richard Rich
After getting blamed for spoiling Christmas, the richest kid in the world wishes he'd never been born. Unfortunately, a wishing machine, invented by professor Keenbean, picked up the wish and made it come true. Now Richie finds himself in a parallel world where his only hope is to find professor Keenbean and the wishing machine so he can wish things back to normal. Written by Peter Huiskes
Zack and Reba
Virgil Payne
Two young adults who are coping with the deaths of their partners try to move forward with their lives and start a relationship with each other.
Beverly Hills Family Robinson
Doug Robinson
Marsha Robinson, host of a TV cooking show, takes her family on a working vacation to a South Seas Island, but their yacht is hijacked by pirates, and then shipwrecked, and the Robinsons must survive Marsha's complaints while they build a treehouse, meet a handsome carpenter, bond together as a family and fight off the pirates
Jingle All the Way
D.J.
Howard Langston, a salesman for a mattress company, is constantly kept busy at his job, disappointing his son. After he misses his son's karate exposition, Howard vows to make it up to him by buying an action figure of his son's favorite television hero for Christmas. Unfortunately for Howard, it is Christmas Eve, and every store is sold out of Turbo Man. Now, Howard must travel all over town and compete with everybody else to find a Turbo Man action figure.
Edie & Pen
Johnnie Sparkle
In this comedy, two women head for Reno to get simultaneous quicky divorces and end up becoming friends. Edie was married years ago, but her husband abandoned her two weeks after the wedding. Pen spent nine years married to an ice-cold businessman who neglected her.
Sex, Censorship and the Silver Screen
Quote Reader
Explores sexuality and censorship over a hundred years of motion pictures.
How the West Was Fun
Bart Gafooley
Twin sisters help a woman save her dude ranch from developers who would like to turn the property into a theme park.
Mr. Write
Dan Barnes
Aspiring writer (with no talent) gets a job on a TV commercial, falls for an advertising executive.
The Day My Parents Ran Away
Norman Roberts
An irresponsible teen examines his life after his fed-up parents leave him to fend for himself.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Justin Gregory
Loving but irresponsible dad Daniel Hillard, estranged from his exasperated spouse, is crushed by a court order allowing only weekly visits with his kids. When Daniel learns his ex needs a housekeeper, he gets the job -- disguised as a British nanny. Soon he becomes not only his children's best pal but the kind of parent he should have been from the start.
Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's
“Love Thy Neighbor" Host
Newswoman Fay Sommerfield takes a morally outraged look at excessive violence, bad language and sacrilege that pass for entertainment in the early 90s. She illustrates this with clips from (fake) current hit films and music videos.
Miracle Beach
Donald Burbank
A romantic comedy set in the Southern California beach scene. Down on his luck, Scotty McKay becomes the master of a very lonely genie, who brings him wealth, power and true love. Miracles can happen!
The Player
Martin Mull
A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected - but which one?
Dance with Death
Art
A string of murders at a local strip joint give a reporter the chance to do undercover investigation. She gets a job as a stripper at the establishment, where she befriends some of the other women, who know more about what is happening than they have publicly admitted. As she gets closer to the truth, her life is put in jeopardy.
Ted & Venus
Ted's Attorney
Ted is a 1970s Venice Beach poet who spends his days drifting along the boardwalk, reciting his poetry to anyone who will listen. His life changes when a bikini-clad beauty named Linda strolls by him. Instantly, Ted believes he's found his "Venus" and becomes obsessed with Linda. He tries to woo her with poetry, obscene phone calls and romantic overtures, all to disastrous effect.
Far Out Man
Psychiatrist
An aging hippie sets out on a trip across America to find his family.
Ski Patrol
Maris
Pops isn't worried about the renewal of the lease for his ski lodge - the safety record is unblemished in spite of the crew of misfits who make up his ski patrol. But a scheming land developer has other plans and the ski patrol is thrust into a skiing showdown in order to save Pops' mountain.
Think Big
Dr. Bruekner
Two truckers hired to transport toxic waste across the country get caught up with a teen genius who stows away on their truck.
Cutting Class
William Carson III
High school student Paula Carson's affections are being sought after by two of her classmates: Dwight, the "bad boy", and Brian, a disturbed young man who has just been released from a mental hospital where he was committed following the suspicious death of his father. Soon after being released, more murders start happening. Is Brian back to his old tricks, or is Dwight just trying to eliminate the competition?
Portrait of a White Marriage
Martin Mull
Funny satire of middle America and talk shows, featuring cast members of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and 2/3 of Spinal Tap!
Portrait of a White Marriage
Writer
Funny satire of middle America and talk shows, featuring cast members of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" and 2/3 of Spinal Tap!
Rented Lips
Executive Producer
A documentary filmmaker, who has spent the last 15 years making films like "Aluminum: Our Shiny Friend," is finally given the chance to make the documentary on Indian farming he has always wanted to. The catch? He must simultaneously direct a porn film. But as he tries to make the porn film, which he turns into a musical called "Halloween in the Barracks," he must deal with a temperamental actor, a fundamentalist preacher, and other obstacles.
Rented Lips
Writer
A documentary filmmaker, who has spent the last 15 years making films like "Aluminum: Our Shiny Friend," is finally given the chance to make the documentary on Indian farming he has always wanted to. The catch? He must simultaneously direct a porn film. But as he tries to make the porn film, which he turns into a musical called "Halloween in the Barracks," he must deal with a temperamental actor, a fundamentalist preacher, and other obstacles.
Rented Lips
Archie Powell
A documentary filmmaker, who has spent the last 15 years making films like "Aluminum: Our Shiny Friend," is finally given the chance to make the documentary on Indian farming he has always wanted to. The catch? He must simultaneously direct a porn film. But as he tries to make the porn film, which he turns into a musical called "Halloween in the Barracks," he must deal with a temperamental actor, a fundamentalist preacher, and other obstacles.
Home is Where the Hart Is
Carson Boundy
Nurse and con artist Belle Haimes (Valri Bromfield) lives with her dull-witted husband Rex Haimes (Stephen E. Miller) in the Hart Mansion in British Columbia. There she cares for the invalid, 103 year-old Slim Hart, aka Pappy, (Joe Austin) and his wife, Minnie (Enid Saunders) who is in a coma. Waking up from a sleep, Belle is not enthusiastic about returning to her job and overhears the night nurse (Leslie Jones) reading a postcard from the Hart's two twin boys, Martin Hart (Eric Christmas) and Art Hart (Ted Stidder) that they will be returning home soon. Belle plots the death of old Mrs. Hart and the kidnapping of Old Pappy but things don't go quite according to plan.
Jonathan Winters: On the Ledge
From an uproarious news spoof to a luncheonette that specializes in some sandwiches, Jonathan Winters and his wild bunch wreak comedy havoc in this wacky walk on the wild side.
Flicks
Tang / Arthur Lyle
A parody of Saturday afternoon matinee's, including coming attractions and a cartoon.
Pecos Bill
Steve Guttenberg portrays Pecos Bill, the "King of the Cowboys," in this rootin' tootin' epic. Raised by coyotes, Bill puts the "wild" in the Wild West settlement of Petunia City. When his rowdy behavior gets him run out of town, he heads for Mexico. There, Bill lassos a cyclone to save the state of Texas from drought. His heroics become campfire legend, proving that selflessness and bravery are never forgotten.
The History of White People in America: Volume II
Writer
The sequel to The History of White People in America
The History of White People in America: Volume II
Himself - Host
The sequel to The History of White People in America
The Boss' Wife
Tony Dugdale
Daniel Stern stars as a stockbroker trying to climb the corporate ladder. There's only one thing stopping him...his boss' beautiful and flirtatious wife! THE BOSS' WIFE is a full-bodied, high-spirited, bedroom comedy about lust, love and lechery.
Clue
Colonel Mustard
Clue finds six colorful dinner guests gathered at the mansion of their host, Mr. Boddy -- who turns up dead after his secret is exposed: He was blackmailing all of them. With the killer among them, the guests and Boddy's chatty butler must suss out the culprit before the body count rises.
California Girls
Elliot
A New Jersey auto mechanic travels to California to find the girl of his dreams and woos a bikini fashion model while the time quarreling with her high-powered manager and avoiding his New Jersey girlfriend who comes looking for him.
Lots of Luck
Frank Maris
A middle-aged Annette Funicello stars in this made-for-Disney film about a blue-collar family whose lives are forever transformed when they win the lottery.
The History of White People in America
Writer
In this parody of documentaries, host Martin Mull discusses the contributions that white people have made to the USA, visits the Institute of White Studies, and follows a typical white family as they go about their everyday lives.
The History of White People in America
Host
In this parody of documentaries, host Martin Mull discusses the contributions that white people have made to the USA, visits the Institute of White Studies, and follows a typical white family as they go about their everyday lives.
O.C. and Stiggs
Pat Coletti
O.C. and Stiggs aren't your average unhappy teenagers. They not only despise their suburban surroundings, they plot against it. They seek revenge against the middle class Schwab family, who embody all they detest: middle class.
Bad Manners
Warren Fitzpatrick
Four teens on the run from an orphanage spring a fellow orphan recently adopted by a rich family, then trash the whole house.
Sunset Limousine
Mel Shaver (uncredited)
Alan O'Black is a comic who wants to hit it big. But his endless attempts at stardom have worn down his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Julie. Thinking she'll give him another chance if he gets a real job, Alan gets a gig as a limo driver, which promptly lands him in a slew of trouble when he meets and gets involved in the hijinks of a crooked entrepreneur, Bradley Coleman.
Mr. Mom
Ron
Jack and Caroline are a couple making a decent living when Jack suddenly loses his job. They agree that he should stay at home and look after the house while Caroline works. It's just that he's never done it before, and really doesn't have a clue...
Private School
Drug Store Clerk (uncredited)
Private-school student Christine loves Jim. But her classmate, Jordan, is also vying for Jim's attention and trying to end his relationship with Christine. Meanwhile, Jim's friend Bubba embarks on a series of sexual escapades, including dressing up as a woman to access the girls' locker room. Despite Jim and Christine's efforts to spend some time alone, various shenanigans and schemes interfere.
Grandpa, Will You Run with Me?
A celebration of how the very young and the very old appreciate and enjoy each other via sketches and variety performances.
Twilight Theater
Television parody. Sketches include: Women Who Have Made It With Me, No-Arms Bandits, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, & Funky High School. Features a performance by Riders in the Sky & Devo's "Beautiful World" music video. Also, excerpts from Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love" video, & QUASI AT THE QUACKADERO.
Take This Job and Shove It
Dick Ebersol
A junior executive is ordered to boost output in the hometown brewery where his old friends work.
My Bodyguard
Mr. Peache
Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere presence intimidates students and teachers alike. But their "business relationship" soon turns personal as Clifford and the troubled loner forge a winning alliance against their intimidators - and a very special friendship with each other.
Serial
Harvey
A man resists the California fads that his wife, friends and wealthy Marin County neighbors embrace. Based on the serial by Cyra McFadden in the San Francisco Chronicle in the 70s, satirizing the lifestyle trends of the local elite - from open marriages and organic food to New Age cults.
The Chevy Chase National Humor Test
Writer
1979 comedy special starring Chevy Chase in the vein of Saturday Night Live.
The Chevy Chase National Humor Test
1979 comedy special starring Chevy Chase in the vein of Saturday Night Live.
FM
Eric Swan
Q-SKY is the #1 radio station in Los Angeles mainly because of the music they play; running the station the way they want to, it has made them a ratings success.
Jump
Music Producer
A Southern stock-car driver puts his rising career in the hands of a race promoter.