Printable Biography of Martin Mull

The family then moved to the relative sophistication of New Canaan, Connecticut (35 years before Letterman did) and, after graduating from public high school, Martin spent the next six years at the Rhode Island School of Design, where he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts.

A Master’s Degree doesn’t automatically make one smart and, to prove that point, Martin embarked on a career as a musician/singer/songwriter/comedian. The next fifteen years of performing - in virtually every facility that could boast an inadequate sound system - was fueled in part by the release of four albums on Capricorn Records, two for ABC Recordsand one for Elektra Records. I’M EVERYONE I EVER LOVED (ABC) was nominated for a Grammy for Best Comedy Recording -- Steve Martin won. The following year, SEX AND VIOLINS (ABC) was nominated for Best Cover Design -- another near miss. Sensing an obvious downward trend, Martin set his guitar and alleged "act" aside to pursue a career in television a n d film. His acting debut was made as wife-beating Garth Gimble on Norman Lear’s MARY HARTMAN, MARY HARTMAN. After Garth met his well-earned demise on the business-end of an aluminum Christmas tree, his twin brother, Barth, surfaced briefly a n d was spun-off to host FERNWOOD 2 NITE and, subsequently, AMERICA 2NITE. These were half-hour talk shows that distinguished themselves from the current log-jam, of afternoon TV fare by being intentionally inane. From there, along with frequent forays into the world of talk shows (hosting the TONIGHT SHOW on numerous occasions) game shows, and dramatic guest shots, Martin starred in two series for CBS: DOMESTIC LIFE and HIS AND HERS, as well as THE HISTORY OF WHITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA for Cinemax. The latter, a six-part "mock-umentary," won the cable-TV ACE Award, the Writer’s Guild of America Award, and was placed by TIME magazine in its "top ten  shows of the year" - right alongside the Olympics and PBS’s unforgettable THE STORY OF ENGLISH. Two "companion" books to the aforementioned mini-series, THE HISTORY OF WHITE PEOPLE IN AMERICA and A PALER SHADE OF WHITE, were published by Perigee Books. Both were coauthored by Allen Rucker. With the exception of a one-year "loan out" to the JACKIE THOMAS-SHOW, Martin spent the following eight years as a regular on the ROSEANNE show (ABC) where he played Leon Carp, Roseanne’s gay and dyspeptic boss. Currently, Martin is a regular on SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH (ABC) where he plays Willard Kraft, the equally dyspeptic Vice-Principal of a high school. Since 1978, Martin has appeared in numerous feature films, ranging from the notable to the not so. His credits include starring roles in SERIAL, RENTED LIPS and CLUE, and featured roles in such films as MR. MOM, THE BODYGUARD and MRS. DOUBTFIRE. Martin is the proud spokesperson for RED ROOF MOTOR INNS and the commercials this alliance has engendered have won CLIO and other advertising industry awards. An exhibiting artist, Martin’s paintings have been shown in numerous galleries and museums nationwide. PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS AND WORDS, a collection of essays and reproductions of recent work, was released in June of 1995. (Journey Editions Press) Martin is happily married to Wendy Haas, musician/composer and mother extraordinaire to their twelveyear- old daughter, Maggie. The Mulls reside in Los Angeles despite a near-daily resolve to avail themselves of the burgeoning "sellers market."