Martin Mull, veteran character actor known for roles in ‘Roseanne’ and ‘Veep,’ dies at 80

(CNN) — Martin Mull, a veteran character actor who appeared in more than a hundred films and television shows, including “Roseanne,” “Veep” and “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” has died, his daughter shared in a post on social media. He was 80.

“I am heartbroken to share that my father passed away at home on June 27th, after a valiant fight against a long illness,” his daughter Maggie Mull wrote in a tribute on Instagram Friday. “He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials. He would find that joke funny. He was never not funny.”

“My dad will be deeply missed by his wife and daughter, by his friends and coworkers, by fellow artists and comedians and musicians, and—the sign of a truly exceptional person—by many, many dogs. I loved him tremendously.”

CNN has reached out to a representative for Mull for comment.

The comedian broke into TV in the 1970s when he starred in soap opera parody “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” then its spin-off “Fernwood Tonight.” He went on to star as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 film “Clue.” From there, he took roles in numerous comedy series including “Roseanne,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Arrested Development,” and “Two and a Half Men.”

On social media, actors and others who had worked with Mull remembered him for his talent and comedy.

Actor Harry Shearer in a post on X reminisced about his time working with Mull.

“Took me a moment to grasp that Martin Mull has passed. During the late 70s, we worked together on Fernwood Tonight & its successor series,” Shearer said. “We wrote together, often at the beach (!), and sometimes I’d come out and riff with him. Mucho laffs! Always a treat to be with. RIP MM.”

Roseanne actor Michael Fishman called Mull “a legend.”

“He was a tremendous talent, who was always funny. As amazing as he was on camera, he was even more incredible off,” Fishman said. “The world was better with him in it. Perhaps the other side needed more laughter.”

Voice actress Grey DeLisle posted about Mull’s sense of humor.

“Every time a big celebrity died, Martin would come into the studio bragging about the ‘HUGE JOB’ he’d just booked with them,” she said on X. “There would always be this uncomfortable ‘oh no….who’s gonna tell him???’ moment before he’d burst out laughing!”

Director Paul Feig said: “Oh man, this is so sad. Martin was the greatest. So funny, so talented, such a nice guy. Was lucky enough to act with him on The Jackie Thomas Show and treasured every moment being with a legend. Fernwood Tonight was so influential in my life. RIP Martin.”

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