Martin Mull Dead: The 'Fernwood 2 Night' And 'Roseanne' Star Was 80

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA: Actor Martin Mull attends the Television Academy reception for Emmy nominated ... [+] performers at Pacific Design Center on September 16, 2016 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Martin Mull, the actor, comedian, singer/songwriter and painter who rose to fame in the syndicated late night satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and its spinoff Fernwood 2 Night, has died. He was 80.

Mull died at his home after a “valiant fight against a long illness,” his daughter, Maggie Mull, shared on Instagram.

“He was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginable and also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials,” she wrote. “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.”

Born Martin Eugene Mull on August 18, 1943 in Chicago, Martin Mull’s original plan was to become a painter, and he studied at the Rhode Island School of Design. Once he started organizing bands to earn money for tuition, however, he found a new career path in the field of entertainment.

Mull broke into show business as a songwriter, penning 1970 country single, A Girl Named Johnny Cash. Shortly thereafter, he began his own recording career.

At the time, Mull was best known as a musical comedian, performing satirical and humorous songs both live and in studio recordings. Notable gigs included opening for artists like Randy Newman and Sandy Denny, Frank Zappa, Billy Joel, and Bruce Springsteen. His self-titled debut album was released in 1972.

Mull’s first big break as an actor was playing Garth Gimble on Norman Lear’s soap opera spoof Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman in 1976, which he continued on the one season spinoffs Fernwood 2 Night and America 2 Night in 1977 and 1978, respectively, opposite his future Roseanne co-star Fred Willard.

After a round of TV guest spots, Mull’s first regularly scheduled primetime sitcom was the 10-episode Domestic Life in 1984. Following more guest appearances, his next comedy series attempt was the also short-lived His & Hers in 1990.

LOS ANGELES - 1985: Actor Martin Mull poses for a portrait in 1985 in Los Angeles, California. ... [+] (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)

During the 1980s, Mull appeared in the films Mr. Mom, Clue and Serial, and starred in a series of commercials for Michelob and Pizza Hut, and in a roster of television and radio commercials for Red Roof Inn with Fred Willard.

Mull found greater success in the recurring role as Leon Carp, Roseanne Conner's gay boss (and later business partner) on Roseanne effective in 1991, which he appeared on through 1997. In 1992, he co-starred opposite Roseanne Barr’s then husband Tom Arnold in the one season comedy The Jackie Thomas Show.

ROSEANNE - "December Bride" which aired on December 12, 1995. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney ... [+] General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MARTIN MULL and FRED WILLARD

Mull and Fred Willard, who died in 2020, reteamed on the 1985 HBO mockumentary The History of White People in America.

In 1993, lent hhe is voice to the one season animated sitcom Family Dog, which was one of many voice roles through the course of his career. From 1997 to 2000, Mull played Willard Kraft on the fantasy comedy Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Among his other roles was a one season stint in the Brad Garrett sitcom ‘Til Death in 2010, a recurring role on Two and a Half Men and Arrested Development, and the one season Fox comedies Dads in 2013-14 and The Cool Kids in 2018-19.

In 2016, Mull was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy for the HBO Julia Louis-Dreyfus vehicle Veep.

THE COOL KIDS: L-R: Leslie Jordan, Vicki Lawrence, Martin Mull and David Alan Grier in the "Vegas ... [+] Baby!" episode of THE COOL KIDS airing Friday, May 3 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (Photo by FOX Image Collection via Getty Images)

Martin Mull is survived by his wife Wendy and daughter Maggie.