The inimitable Martin Mull, a veritable chameleon of creativity, has taken his final bow at the age of 80, leaving behind a legacy as colorful and diverse as this season’s Gucci collection.
Mull, whose wit was as sharp as a pair of Louboutin stilettos, passed away in the comfort of his home after a courageous battle with illness. His daughter, Maggie Mull, a wordsmith in her own right, announced the news with a touching tribute that captured her father’s essence – a man who could don the hat of any artistic pursuit with the same ease as slipping into a bespoke Tom Ford suit.
From the small screen to the silver, Mull’s career was a masterclass in versatility. He first caught our eye in the deliciously campy “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” serving looks and laughs in equal measure. But it was his turn as the dapper and devious Colonel Mustard in “Clue” that truly cemented his status as a style icon for the thinking woman’s leading man.
Television audiences of the ’90s will recall Mull’s impeccable comic timing as Leon Carp in “Roseanne” and his delightfully stuffy Principal Willard Kraft in “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” Each role was a carefully curated ensemble of character and charm, proving that Mull could work any part like a model works the runway.
But darlings, Mull was more than just a pretty face with impeccable comedic chops. This Chicago-born polymath began his journey as a musical comedian, opening for rock royalty like Frank Zappa and Bruce Springsteen. It’s as if he knew the importance of a good warm-up act, both in music and in life.
A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Mull approached his acting career with the eye of an artist and the soul of a creator. In his own words, acting was the extraordinary day job that allowed him to indulge his true passion – painting. One can’t help but imagine his life as a vibrant canvas, each role and experience a bold brushstroke in a masterpiece of existence.
As we say goodbye to this paragon of panache, we’re reminded that true style is about more than just the clothes on one’s back – it’s about the indelible mark we leave on the world. Martin Mull, with his quick wit, versatile talent, and artistic soul, has left us with a legacy that will never go out of fashion.
He is survived by his wife, Wendy Haas, a fellow artist in her own right, and his daughter Maggie. As we lower our Chanel sunglasses in respect, we can’t help but think that somewhere, Martin Mull is cracking wise about Red Roof Inns and painting the afterlife in technicolor hues.
