As the entertainment world continues to reel over Martin Mull’s passing on June 27, 2024, a heartfelt reflection on his career and lone Emmy Award nomination are in order. With nearly 150 acting credits since his career began in the mid-1970s, Mull earned a reputation for being one of the funniest and most versatile entertainers in movies and TV. In addition to performing on the big and small screens, Mull was known for his painterly skills and musical talents as a guitar player.
Although Mull’s most famous credits include the classic whodunit Clue, the landmark TV shows Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and Roseanne, as well as Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Two and a Half Men, and Arrested Development,it took the beloved character actor 73 years to finally score his first Primetime Emmy nomination. Surprisingly, Mull’s sole Emmy nod came from the political HBO comedy Veep after appearing in a four-episode arc as political consultant Bob Bradley.
Veep
5/5
Former Senator Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) has accepted the call to serve as Vice President of the United States. The job is nothing like she imagined and everything she was warned about. Veep follows Meyer and her staff as they attempt to make their mark and leave a lasting legacy, without getting tripped up in the day-to-day political games that define Washington. Meyer’s inner circle includes: her chief of staff Amy (Anna Chlumsky), longtime press spokesperson Mike McClintock (Matt Walsh), right hand and body man Gary (Tony Hale) and secretary Sue (Sufe Bradshaw) all of whom often do battle with Dan Egan (Reid Scott) an ambitious interloper and smug White House liaison Jonah (Tim Simons).
- Release Date
- April 22, 2012
- Seasons
- 7
- Studio
- HBO
- Network
- HBO Max
Who Is Martin Mull?
Born in Chicago in 1943, Martin Mull broke into the entertainment industry as a musician in 1970 after writing the popular single, “A Girl Named Johnny Cash.” As Mull’s profile began to rise, he continued incorporating songwriting and musical instruments into his stand-up comedy shows, opening for popular musicians Randy Newman, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Mull’s brand of humor landed him his first TV role in 1976, appearing in 49 episodes of the satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.
Mull’s character on the show, Garth/Barth Gimble, was so popular that he starred in Norman Lear’s 1977 spin-off talk show satire, Fernwood 2 Tonight, and its continuation America 2-Night. Although Mull spent another 109 episodes playing Gimble (alongside the brilliant Fred Willard), he did not receive a single award nomination. Mull’s first award nod and win came in 1985 after starring in the comedy special, The History of White People in America, for which he co-wrote and earned a CableAce Award. That same year, Mull scored his most iconic movie role in the big-screen adaptation of the Hasbro board game Clue, in which he stood out among a hilarious ensemble as Colonel Mustard, a bumbling war criminal with hysterical one-liners.
In addition to Clue, Mull’s notable movie credits include Mr. Mom, Ski Patrol, Mrs. Doubtfire, Jingle All the Way, and more. Mull also worked concurrently on TV during his movie career, appearing in such popular shows as Taxi and The Golden Girls before landing his big breakout as Leon Carp in the hit sitcom Roseanne.
Martin Mull’s Iconic Role as Leon Carp in Roseanne
Martin Mull joined the ensemble cast of Roseanne in Season 3, Episode 17, “Valentine’s Day.” Introduced in 1991 as Leon Carp, Roseanne’s boss at Rodbell’s Luncheonette diner, Mull immediately proved to share excellent comedic timing with stars Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, and others. At first, Leon is a prickly thorn in Roseanne’s side at work who constantly gives her a hard time. As the series advanced, Leon became a surrogate Conner family member and their business partner behind The Lanford Lunchbox eatery.
Mull appeared in 46 episodes of Roseanne between 1991 and 1997, becoming an indispensable fan-favorite character that advocated for gay rights. As a gay man, Leon shares typical dating troubles until he meets his true love, Scott (Mull’s old friend, Fred Willard), whom he marries in a tender public ceremony. Although Mull served as a creative consultant in Roseanne Season 4, and wrote the episode “Tolerate Thy Neighbor,” Leon’s inclusion ramped up in Seasons 8 and 9. When Roseanne wins the lottery, Leon initially becomes upset until Roseanne and Jackie bestow The Lanford Lunchbox diner to him and Nancy.
Despite playing Leon Carp for 46 episodes over seven seasons, Mull never made an appearance on the recent spin-off, The Conners, despite fans clamoring for his return online. Stranger yet, Mull was never nominated for a TV award or accolade for his role as Leon Carp, despite the show earning 27 nominations and four wins while on the air. In 2008, Mull did share an Innovator TV Land Award for his work on Roseanne, an honor he shared with the ensemble cast. However, it would take roughly 20 years after his performance in Roseanne to score his one and only Primetime Emmy nod in the HBO original series Veep.
Martin Mull Earns Emmy Nod for Playing Bob Bradley in Veep
Created by Armando Iannucci, Veep is a satirical political sitcom that debuted on HBO in 2012 and essentially transplanted his masterful British comedy The Thick of It from 10 Downing Street to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The series concerns the fictional Vice President, Selena Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and her incompetent, foul-mouthed staff whose office shenanigans threaten to undermine the office’s efficacy. Veep ran for seven seasons and 65 episodes, winning 17 Primetime Emmy Awards during its remarkable TV run.
In addition to Louis-Dreyfus, Veep boasts a hilarious ensemble of comedic actors, including Anna Chlumsky, Matt Walsh, Reid Scott, Kevin Dunn, Gary Cole, Tony Hale, Timmothy Simons, Hugh Laurie, Patton Oswalt, David Rasche, Dan Bakkedahl, Randall Park, Diedrich Bader, Paul Scheer, Peter MacNicol, Christopher Meloni, and many more. Mull joined Veep in 2016 during Season 5, Episode 2, “Nev-AD-a,” portraying veteran political aide Bob Bradley in four unforgettable episodes.
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A White House aide during the 1980s, Bob Bradley is introduced as one of Meyer’s old friends and political colleagues. Also acquainted with the President’s Chief of Staff, Ben Cafferty (Dunn), Bradley is described by Kent Davison (Cole) as having served in more administrations than any person alive. Bradley’s four-episode arc involves the 2016 vote recount in Nevada, where his consultancy begins to fall apart, as nobody on Meyer’s team realizes he has Alzheimer’s. It’s a hilarious performance, tinged with just a bit of tragedy.
Along with Laurie, Cole, and MacNicol, Mull was the only guest star on Veep to earn a Primetime Emmy nomination. Even more impressive, Mull earned the nomination by appearing in only four episodes of the hit HBO comedy series. In comparison, Laurie spent 20 episodes on the show, Cole 55, and MacNicol nine. Mull’s deft ability to mine sidesplitting laughter and heartfelt pathos in such a short time speaks volumes about his acting aplomb and ability to make a lasting impression in a brief appearance.
Martin Mull’s Post-Veep Career
Mull’s Primetime Emmy nod was not the end-all, be-all of his illustrious career. Following his time on Veep, Mull stayed busy on television and found a productive groove in the past decade. Aside from stealing scenes in single episodes of Grace and Frankie, NCIS: Los Angeles, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Bob’s Burgers, Mull stood out with recurring characters on Life in Pieces,I’m Sorry, The Cool Kids, The Ranch, Not Dead Yet, and The Afterparty. However, fans will never forget his hysterical turn as Gene Parmesan in the hit sitcom Arrested Development.
Introduced in Season 2, Episode 3, “Amigos,” Gene Parmesan is a woefully incompetent private detective hired by Lucille (Jessica Walter) to find out if George Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor) is having an extramarital affair. Despite joining the show in 2004, Mull played Parmesan in six episodes until 2019. The ridiculous disguises Parmesan uses during his undercover work rank among some of the funniest moments on the show. Just like Colonel Mustard, Leon Carp, and Bob Bradley, Gene Parmesan will be sorely missed.
During his long, decorated movie and TV career, Martin Mull proved he could deliver brief, award-worthy performances on some of the most popular TV shows around. While fans would expect to see Mull receive a Primetime Emmy for his work as Garth Gimble, Leon Carp, and Gene Parmesan, it took 73 years for the late great actor to score the unexpected nod as Bob Bradley on Veep. While awards and nominations are fickle as the wind, nothing can take away from Martin Mull’s impressive 50-year acting career. Veep is available to stream on Max below:
Watch Veep
