 |
Martin Mull in the 1984 sitcom "Domestic Life.". Source: https://www.gettyimages.ca/ editorial-images/entertainment/event/martin-mull-dies-at-80/776166660 (May be subject to copyright) |
No, when I think of Martin Mull, I go back to Grade 9, the early part of 1984, and doing my homework in front of the TV, and watching a show called “Domestic Life” on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial. It only lasted a handful of episodes, but it sticks out for me.
Yet, that was just one stop on Martin Mull’s journey through TV and movies.
The movies
Martin Mull got his first role in movies in 1978 in “FM”. As the 1980s dawned, he had a string of roles in “Serial”; “My Bodyguard”; “Take This Job and Shove it”; “Flicks”; “Mr. Mom”; “Private School”; “Bad Manners”; “Clue”; “O.C. and Stiggs”; “The Boss’ Wife”; “Rented Lips”; and “Cutting Class”.
Martin Mull got his first role in movies in 1978 in “FM”. As the 1980s dawned, he had a string of roles in “Serial”; “My Bodyguard”; “Take This Job and Shove it”; “Flicks”; “Mr. Mom”; “Private School”; “Bad Manners”; “Clue”; “O.C. and Stiggs”; “The Boss’ Wife”; “Rented Lips”; and “Cutting Class”.
Television
Mull’s first role on television was a 49-episode stint on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” in 1976-1977. He followed that on the show’s sequels “Fernwood 2 Night” in 1977 for 44 episodes; and “America 2-Night” in 1978 for another 65 episodes.
Mull’s first role on television was a 49-episode stint on “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” in 1976-1977. He followed that on the show’s sequels “Fernwood 2 Night” in 1977 for 44 episodes; and “America 2-Night” in 1978 for another 65 episodes.
He also appeared in episodes of “The New Adventures of Wonder Woman” and “Taxi”.
Mull began the 1980s with a role opposite John Ritter in “Sunset Limousine” in 1983, then landed another role in network TV.
Domestic Life
Long before John Mahoney made the name Martin Crane famous for 11 seasons on “Frasier”, Martin Mull played a much different character with the same name. It was in a 1984 sitcom, also set in Seattle, called “Domestic Life”.
Long before John Mahoney made the name Martin Crane famous for 11 seasons on “Frasier”, Martin Mull played a much different character with the same name. It was in a 1984 sitcom, also set in Seattle, called “Domestic Life”.
This Martin Crane was a commentator on the evening news with a segment called “Domestic Life”, which was based on the goings-on in his own home.
What really stuck out for me, and drew me to the show was something I saw in the first episode. Martin had a daughter named Didi. She looked familiar, but kind of out of context. After seeing her a couple times I realized exactly who she was.
It was Canadian actress Megan Follows. At first, I did not believe it. After all, I had only seen her on Canadian TV, the CBC in particular, and never thought she’d appear on American network television.
So, the next time “Domestic Life” was on, I paid particular attention to the credits.
Sure enough it was Megan Follows.
Even her talent could not save “Domestic Life”.
The show aired on Channel 7 of the peasant vision dial, lasting just 10 episodes from January to April of 1984, before it was cancelled.
The years after
Martin Mull closed out the ‘80s with a few TV movies, but got rolling again in the ‘90s and beyond.
Martin Mull closed out the ‘80s with a few TV movies, but got rolling again in the ‘90s and beyond.
He appeared in a lot of low-budget movies such as “Ski Patrol”; “Think Big”; “Far Out Man”; “Miracle Beach”; and “Dance with Death”.
Then he was in more successful films such as “Mrs. Doubtfire”; “Edie and Pen”; and “Jingle All the Way”; as well as more lesser-known movies.
On TV, he stayed busy. His most notable role was as Leon Carp, Roseanne’s boss in “Roseanne” for 46 episodes over six seasons. He was also in 13 episodes of “His and Hers”; “The Golden Girls”; “Get a Life”; “The Larry Sanders Show”; “Burke’s Law”; “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”; “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”; “The Simpsons”; “Family Guy”; “Just Shoot Me!”; “The Ellen Show”, for 18 episodes; “Reba”; “Arrested Development” for six episodes; “Gary Unmarried” for two episodes; “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit”; “Two and a Half Men” for six episodes; “’Til Death”, for 12 episodes; “Psych”; “Dads”, for 19 episodes; “Community”, for two episodes; “Life in Pieces”, for four episodes; “Veep”, where he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series; “The Ranch”, for 13 episodes; “NCIS: Los Angeles”; “I’m Sorry”, for seven episodes; “The Cool Kids”, for 22 episodes; “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”; “Grace and Frankie”; and much more.
His final appearances were in 2023 in “Not Dead Yet” for three episodes, and “The Afterparty” for two episodes.
Martin Mull died on June 27, 2024.
He was 80 years old.
Parting thoughts
Martin Mull was one of those actors who just kept on working, pretty much right up until his death. He showed a lot of talent, even earning an Emmy nomination, but he also appeared in a lot of stuff that wasn’t that good.
Martin Mull was one of those actors who just kept on working, pretty much right up until his death. He showed a lot of talent, even earning an Emmy nomination, but he also appeared in a lot of stuff that wasn’t that good.
The funny thing is, as I went through all these different shows he was in, from “Clue” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” to “Roseanne” and his award-nominated turn in “Veep”, whenever I hear his name I am always taken back to that little-known sitcom.
To me, he will always be the original Martin Crane in “Domestic Life”.
No comments:
Post a Comment