Martin Mull was born on August 18, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to Betty, an actress and director, and Harold Mull, a carpenter. He was the eldest of three children and grew up in Ohio. As a young man, Mull discovered his artistic talents as a painter and attended art school.
To pay his tuition, Mull started organizing bands and eventually discovered his passion for stand-up comedy. He began to gain recognition as a humorist, which led to a recording contract and multiple Grammy nominations for his eccentric comedy albums. Mull's unique gimmick was his dry, humorless delivery and bland, conservative-looking demeanor, which masked a witty and subversive philosophy.
In the 1970s, Mull gained popularity and broke into TV with a role in the cult soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. He played Garth Gimble, a volatile wife abuser who got his comeuppance when he was impaled by a star on an aluminum Christmas tree in his home closet. This role led to a spin-off series, Fernwood Tonight, where Mull played twin brother Barth Gimble, a co-host of a local TV program.
After his peak, Mull became a sought-after guest on talk shows, variety specials, and TV movies. He tried his hand at producing and starring in his own sitcom, Domestic Life, but it failed. Mull also appeared in several films, including FM, Serial, Mr. Mom, and Clue.
Throughout his career, Mull has made numerous TV appearances, starring in shows such as His & Hers, The Jackie Thomas Show, and recurring roles in Roseanne, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Ellen Show. He has also lent his voice to animated comedies like Family Dog, Teamo Supremo, and American Dad!
Mull's first passion was art, and his work has been featured in galleries worldwide. He authored the book "Painting, Drawing and World," a compilation of his work over ten years. Mull was married to composer/musician Wendy Haas and has a daughter, Maggie Mull.
