Arrested Development and Roseanne star Martin Mull dies at 80

Television star Martin Mull, best known for his roles in the hit comedy series Arrested Development, Roseanne and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, has died from an unknown illness, his family has announced.

Mull, whose career spanned decades and included hundreds of credits in television, film, comedy and music, died Thursday at the age of 80, his daughter said.

It appears he battled this mysterious illness for a long time.

His daughter, television producer and writer Maggie Mull, confirmed the news on Saturday, describing her father as someone she loved “tremendously”.

“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th after a courageous battle with a long illness,” the former Family Guy producer posted on Instagram.

“He was known for excelling in every creative discipline imaginable… He would find this joke funny. He was never funny.

She added that her father will be “dearly missed” by everyone, including “many, many dogs.”

He landed the role of Colonel Mustard in the 1985 dark comedy film Clue, based on the board game of the same name.

1990s TV fans will recognize him from Roseanne, where he played the boss and best friend of the main character, Leon Carp.

He also appeared in the critically acclaimed Fox sitcom Arrested Development, playing private investigator Gene Parmesan alongside Jessica Walter, Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi and Michael Cera.

His extensive career has seen him accumulate numerous guest credits on many well-known television programs including The Simpsons, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, and more.

He was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2016 for his four-episode guest appearance on HBO’s political satire Veep.

Tributes have started pouring in for the veteran actor and entertainer, with Melissa Joan Hart leading the tributes on social media.

Hart, who played teenage witch Sabrina Spellman on the late 1990s sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media.

The actress, now 48, posted a tribute on Instagram to her bumbling high school principal, Willard Kraft, and the man who played him for 73 episodes.

“Rest in peace, my friend. The incredible #MartinMull (Director Kraft) has left us for his eternal rest,” she wrote.

“I have very fond memories of working with him and was impressed by his immense body of work, which before #SabrinaTheTeemageWitch included #Roseanne and #MrMom among the projects I knew him for.”

The former child star added that even after their stint on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, the two actors continued to cross paths on numerous television sets over the years.

She sympathized with his family over the loss of a “wonderful man.”

“He was an artist who loved to paint and build things with his hands, a musician and a wonderful man who I know better. We will miss him, but this world benefited from his presence,” she wrote.

“My deepest condolences to his family and friends. »

Actor Jennifer Tilly, who starred alongside Mull in the 1988 film Rented Lips, also paid tribute to a man she remembered as “wonderful”.

“I am so sad to hear of the passing of Martin Mull. I worked with him a long time ago on a movie called Rented Lips that he wrote and also starred in,” Tilly explained on X.

“He was a witty, charismatic and kind person. As a new actress, it really meant a lot to me to be able to work with such a wonderful actor.”

Mull is survived by his daughter, Maggie, and his wife, Wendy Haas.