Barney Martin

Barney Martin (March 3, 1923 – March 21, 2005) was an American actor, best known for playing Morty Seinfeld, father of Jerry, on the sitcom Seinfeld (1991–1998). He also played supporting roles in Mel Brooks's The Producers, and the Dudley Moore comedy Arthur (1981). He originated the role of Amos Hart (Mr. Cellophane) in the 1976 Broadway production of Chicago.

Early life Barney Martin was born in New York City on March 3, 1923. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a navigator during the Second World War and worked as a NYPD officer for twenty years, working his way up to detective. He got his start as a comedian while still a police officer, providing deputy commissioners with humorous presentations.

Martin once commented that many Jewish Seinfeld fans told him how much his character reminded them of their fathers. Martin himself was from an Irish Catholic family.

Career Entering show business as a stand-in for Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners in 1955–56 and as a part-time writer for Steve Allen in the 1950s, he was discovered by Mel Brooks, who cast him in The Producers.He also acted in Alfred Hitcock hour, season 3, Blood Bargain. The next year, he played the role of Hank in Charly. He went on to act in dozens of films, including the role of Liza Minnelli's unemployed father in the hit 1981 film Arthur and its 1988 sequel, Arthur 2: On the Rocks.

On television, he appeared in two episodes of The Odd Couple, once in a very early episode as an irate fellow juror infuriated with Felix Unger's pesty personality and four years later as a fellow subway train passenger. Shortly after, Martin co-starred with Tony Randall for two seasons in The Tony Randall Show as court reporter Jack Terwilliger. Throughout the run of this show, he had second billing only to Randall himself. In 1979, he was cast as the title character in Norman Lear's final TV series concept, McGurk: A Dog's Life. Martin was cast to play a character similar to Lear's earlier creation Archie Bunker, but this time as an anthropomorphic dog. Only the pilot was completed. In 1990, he co-starred with Valerie Bertinelli and Matthew Perry in the CBS sitcom Sydney. In 1987, he appeared in the pilot episode of 21 Jump Street as Johnny Depp's partner. In 1993, Martin played the recurring role of "Pete Peters" on the Don Rickles sitcom Daddy Dearest.

In 1975, Martin originated the role of Amos Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago, in which he introduced the song "Mr. Cellophane". He appeared in many more musicals during his career, most notably South Pacific, The Fantasticks, and How Now, Dow Jones.

In 1991, Martin was cast as Morty Seinfeld, the father of Jerry Seinfeld's character on the sitcom Seinfeld. His first appearance was in Season 2's "The Pony Remark". Martin replaced Phil Bruns, who first portrayed the character in Season 1's "The Stake Out". Although he was the second actor to portray Jerry's dad on the show, he is the one most associated with the role, as Bruns appeared in only one episode. Martin took on the role upon showrunners Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld deciding they wanted the character of Morty Seinfeld to be harsher: they thought Bruns' version of the character was too laid-back. Martin retained this role through the end of the series in 1998.

Death Martin died of bladder cancer on March 21, 2005, in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, at age 82. He was cremated, and his ashes were returned to his family.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes1955 The Phil Silvers Show Police Officer Episode: "The Boxer" 1957 To Tell the Truth Imposter Portraying Jack Bothwell (Freckles from "Our Gang") Episode: Aired Nov 26, 19571958 I've Got A Secret Himself, a contestant in a laughing competition Episode: Aired April 2, 19581961 Naked City Bartender Episode: "Landscape with Dead Figures" 1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Rupert Harney Episode: "Blood Bargain"1963 Car 54, Where Are You? Friar Charlie Donovan Episode: "See you at the Bar Mitzvah" 1964 The Patty Duke Show Mr. McDonald 2 episodes 1965 For the People Bartender Episode: "Any Benevolent Purpose"1970–74 The Odd Couple Man #3 / Mr. Moss 2 episodes1976–78 The Tony Randall Show Jack Terwillinger 38 episodes 1978 Happy Days G.W. Burch Episode: "Fonzie for the Defense" 1979 Mrs. Columbo Dr. Prinz Episode: "Word Games" 1980 Hart to Hart Reverend Tyson Episode: "Night Horrors" 1980 Here's Boomer Lew Episode: "Me and My Shadow" 1982 Barney Miller Wendell R. Bergendahl Episode: "Obituary" 1982 Cagney & Lacey Sully Episode: "Pop Used to Work Chinatown" 1982 One of the Boys Big Julie 2 episodes 1982 Cassie & Co. J.T. McClane Episode: "There Went the Bride" 1982 CHiPs Ed Episode: "Speedway Fever" 1982 Archie Bunker's Place Mr. Pulaski Episode: "Archie Gets a Head"1982 Benson Frank Cooper 2 episodes 1983–86 Trapper John, M.D. Fella / Herbert Mitchell 2 episodes 1983 At Ease Col. Whatley Episode: "The Ballad of Lucinda Ballard" 1983 Zorro and Son Napa / Sonoma 5 episodes 1983 Small & Frye Pops Malloy Episode: "Schlockty Too" 1983 Hill Street Blues Ben Seltzer 2 episodes 1984 Night Court Bum Episode: "The Former Harry Stone" 1984 St. Elsewhere Mr. Duffy 2 episodes 1985 The Twilight Zone Marty Episode: "Dealer's Choice" 1985 Diff'rent Strokes Bill Perkins Episode: "Blue Collar Drummond" 1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Marvin Metz Episode: "Fast Food for Thought" 1986 Highway to Heaven Barney Episode: "A Night to Remember" 1986 Punky Brewster Dr. Evans 2 episodes 1986 You Again? Gus Episode: "The Strike" 1986 Hotel John Patterson Episode: "Hornet's Nest" 1986 Kids Incorporated Mr. Angel Episode: "With a Twinkle in His Eye" 1987 One Big Family Phil Episode: "Jake the Beachcomber" 1987 What a Country! Charlie Garver Episode: "The Apartment"1987 21 Jump Street Edison Coulter / Charlie Donegan 2 episodes1987–89 Murder, She Wrote Lieutenant Timothy Hanratty 2 episodes 1988 The Oldest Rookie Heindorf Episode: "Yessir, That's My Baby"1988 Mama's Family Billy Field Episodes: "Mama Goes Hawaiian Parts 1 & 2"1989 Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog Rudy Phillips Television movie 1990 Sydney Ray 13 episodes 1990–1991 Murphy Brown Frank's Father / Dominic Fontana 2 episodes1991 Full House Ranger Roy Episode: "The Legend of Ranger Joe"1991 The Golden Girls Karl "Cheeseman" Moran Episode: "Witness" 1991–92 Life Goes On Stan Baker 5 episodes1991–98 Seinfeld Morty Seinfeld 20 episodes 1992 Sisters Walt Whitsig Episode: "Teach Your Children Well" 1992 Major Dad Stanley Episode: "Close Encounters" 1993 Daddy Dearest Pete Peters 13 episodes 1993The Wonder YearsOld KevinEpisode: "Poker" 1995 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Archie (voice) Episode: "Mayberry UFO" 1996 The Wayans Bros. Santa Episode: "Psycho Santa" 1997 George and Leo The Martian Episode: "The Halloween Show" 1998 Promised Land Sam Perryman Episode: "Undercover Granny"2000–01 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Ambassador Major Voice; 2 episodes 2000 Noah Knows Best Episode: "Lost Night" 2005 Center of the Universe Maury Episode: "The Break In"

Theatre