Comedian, actor, and musician Martin Mull has passed away at the age of 80, his family confirmed. His daughter, Maggie Mull, shared the news on Instagram, saying he died at home โafter a valiant fight against a long illness.โ
โHe was known for excelling at every creative discipline imaginableโand also for doing Red Roof Inn commercials,โ she wrote, adding, โThat joke would make him laugh.โ
Mull was best known for his roles as Leon on Roseanne, the quirky Principal Kraft on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and private eye Gene Parmesan on Arrested Development. In 2016, he earned his first Emmy nomination for Veep.
Beyond acting, Mull had a rich creative life. He co-wrote The History of White People in America, penned parody songs (including โA Girl Named Johnny Cash,โ which charted on Billboard), and opened for legends like Frank Zappa and Billy Joel. His music blended humor with jazz and pop/rockโnot quite parody, but always clever.
Melissa Joan Hart, who starred alongside Mull on Sabrina, remembered him fondly as a beloved colleague with a gift for making people laugh.
Mull is survived by his wife, daughter, and countless fans, friends, and four-legged companions. As Maggie Mull wrote, โI loved him very much.โ