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Kenneth Mars
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Kenneth Mars (April 4, 1935 – February 12, 2011)[1] was an American actor. He appeared in two Mel Brooks films: as the deranged Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in The Producers (1967) and Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp in Young Frankenstein (1974).[2] He also co-starred in Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972) as well as appearing in Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987) and Shadows and Fog (1991).
Key Information
Mars appeared in two seasons of Malcolm in the Middle as Otto Mannkusser, Francis's well-meaning but dimwitted boss, a German immigrant who owns a dude ranch. He voiced King Triton, Ariel's father, in the 1989 Disney animated film The Little Mermaid and its sequel, as well as its companion television series and the Kingdom Hearts series. He also had several other animated voice-over film roles, such as Littlefoot's grandfather Longneck in The Land Before Time series (1994–2008), Professor Screweyes in We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993), Prince Cornelius's father King Colbert in Thumbelina (1994), and Tuskernini in Darkwing Duck (1991–1992). He voiced the Vault 13 Overseer in Interplay's Fallout (video game).
Early life
[edit]Mars was born in Chicago. His father, Bernard "Sonny" Mars, was a radio and television personality.[3] Kenneth studied fine arts and acting at Northwestern University.[1]
Career
[edit]Mars made his acting debut in 1962 as a book publisher on Car 54, Where Are You?. He later appeared on such television series as Gunsmoke, Get Smart, McMillan & Wife, Columbo, Harry O, The Bob Crane Show, and Police Woman.[4] He also appeared in dramatic roles such as Will Turner, a former FBI agent, in Warren Beatty's The Parallax View.
Mars played Harry Zarakartos on the Richard Benjamin-Paula Prentiss 1967 CBS-TV sitcom He & She.[4] He was featured in several small roles in broadcasts such as the Misfits of Science pilot episode and the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Shadowplay". He was cast opposite Bette Davis in Hello Mother, Goodbye!, a 1973 television pilot aired by NBC but never picked up as a series. From 1970 to 1974, Mars guest starred in five episodes of Love, American Style, playing various characters.[4]
In 1977, Mars became a series regular on both the Sha Na Na variety series and on Norman Lear's talk show parody Fernwood 2-Night in the recurring role of eccentric William W.D. 'Bud' Prize, from the Fernwood Chamber of Commerce, reprising the role on America 2-Night in 1978. In 2001, Mars portrayed a comedic famous but washed-up photographer on Just Shoot Me. Before his death, his final television roles were Otto, the German dude ranch owner on Fox's Malcolm in the Middle, an appearance on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, and reprising his role as Grandpa Longneck in The Land Before Time television series.[4]
In 1969, Mars portrayed a marshal trying to raise a posse to pursue Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, only to have his address to the townsfolk hijacked by a friendly bicycle salesman. He frequently played characters with exaggerated accents, portraying German characters in The Producers (1967) and Young Frankenstein (1974) and a Croatian musicologist, Hugh Simon, in What's Up, Doc? (1972). His first broadly accented character was that of Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in the 1962 Off-Broadway revival of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes. He also appeared in the 1962 Broadway play The Affair.[citation needed]
In 1975, ABC/Dunhill released a comedy LP produced by Earl Doud, Henry the First, featuring Mars in several comedy bits as Henry Kissinger, including a cover version of the Bachman–Turner Overdrive song, "Takin' Care of Business".[5]
Mars also had a voice acting career, which began with voicing several characters on Uncle Croc's Block. In film, he voiced Ariel's father King Triton in The Little Mermaid and Littlefoot's grandfather Longneck in The Land Before Time franchise and its spin-off television series, as well as the villainous Professor Screweyes in We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story and Sweet William in Fievel's American Tails, sequel to An American Tail: Fievel Goes West. He had voice roles in various animated television series, such as The Smurfs, The Biskitts, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, TaleSpin, and Ludwig van Beethoven in the Animaniacs episode sketch "Roll Over, Beethoven", as well as video games such as Fallout and Kingdom Hearts, in which he reprised his role as Triton. He also played various minor roles on the popular radio show, Adventures in Odyssey.
In 2008, Mars retired from acting after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years prior.[1] His final performance was as Longneck in the animated television series The Land Before Time.[1]
Personal life
[edit]In 1977, Mars married Barbara Newborn. They had two daughters, and the marriage lasted until his death in 2011.[1]
Illness and death
[edit]In 2006, Mars was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had already spread beyond his pancreas.[1] Due to the cancer, he was unable to reprise his role as Triton in The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning, with Jim Cummings taking over the role. As well, Longneck did not have a speaking role in The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends. Mars died from cancer on February 12, 2011, at the age of 75.[1]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Gunsmoke | Clyde Hayes | Episode: "The Returning" |
| 1967–68 | He & She | Harry Zarakartos | 21 episodes |
| 1968–70 | The Ghost & Mrs. Muir | Joshua T. Albertson, Ellsworth Gordon | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Hawkins | Lester De Ville | Episode: "Murder in Movieland" |
| Guess Who's Sleeping in My Bed? | Mitchell Bernard | Television film | |
| 1974 | Hello Mother, Goodbye! | Television pilot | |
| 1975 | Wonder Woman | Colonel Von Blasko | Episode: "The New Original Wonder Woman" |
| It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman | Max Mencken | Television special | |
| 1977 | Columbo | Mike | Episode: "The Bye-Bye Sky High I.Q. Murder Case" |
| Fernwood 2 Night | William W.D. "Bud" Prize | 8 episodes | |
| Baa Baa Black Sheep | Harold French | Episode: "Five the Hard Way" | |
| 1978 | America 2-Night | William W.D. "Bud" Prize | 3 episodes |
| 1979 | Carol Burnett & Company | Various | |
| 1980 | Hart to Hart | Dr. Cobb | Episode: "Murder Is a Man's Best Friend" |
| 1981 | The Facts of Life | Mr. Harris | Episode: "Gossip" |
| 1981–89 | The Smurfs | King Bullrush, additional voices | Voice, 21 episodes |
| 1983 | The Biskitts | Max, Fetch, Snarl | Voice |
| The New Scooby Doo Mysteries | Orson Kane | Voice, episode: "The Hand of Horror" | |
| 1985 | Misfits of Science | Sen. Donner | Episode: "Deep Freeze" |
| 1987–90 | DuckTales | Vulcan | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1988–91 | A Pup Named Scooby-Doo | Mr. Trixenstuff, Ghost of McMuttmauler, additional voices | Voice, 14 episodes |
| 1989 | Get Smart, Again! | Cmdr. Drury | Television film |
| The Further Adventures of SuperTed | Sleepless Knight | Voice, episode: "Sheepless Nights" | |
| 1990–91 | TaleSpin | Heimlich Menudo, Buzz | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1990 | 227 | Joe Bouvier | Episode: "Nightmare on 227" |
| The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda | Additional Voices | Episode: "Pity the Poor Pirate" | |
| Timeless Tales from Hallmark | Mr. Budgeknot | Episode: "Thumbelina" | |
| Garfield and Friends | Sherlock Holmes | Voice (as Ken Mars), episode: "Hound of the Arbuckles / U.S. Acres: Read Alert / Urban Arbuckle | |
| Tiny Toon Adventures | Flavio | Voice, episode: "Hollywood Plucky"[6] | |
| Perfect Strangers | Alvin 'Ace' Atkins | Episode: "Call Me Indestructible" | |
| Shades of LA | Uncle Louis Burton | 3 episodes | |
| Potsworth & Co | Greystone Giant | Voice, 13 episodes | |
| She'll Take Romance | Smokey | (as Ken Mars), Television film | |
| New Kids on the Block | (Voice, as Ken Mars), 14 episodes | ||
| 1991 | Bobby's World | (Voice, as Ken Mars), Episode: "Clubhouse Bobby" | |
| Darkwing Duck | Tuskernini | Voice, 6 episodes | |
| 1992 | A Different World | Homeless Man | Episode: "Honeymoon in L.A.: Part 2" |
| Captain Planet and the Planeteers | Moisha Lowkowitz | Voice, episode: "If It's Doomsday, This Must Be Belfast"
Credited as Ken Mars | |
| 1992–94 | The Little Mermaid | King Triton | Voice, 25 episodes |
| 1992 | Fievel's American Tails | Sweet William | Voice, 6 episodes |
| 1993 | The Pink Panther | The Commissioner | Voice, 5 episodes |
| Bonkers | Gloomy | Voice, episode: "The Toon That Ate Hollywood" | |
| Animaniacs | Beethoven | Voice, episode: "Roll Over, Beethoven"[6] | |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Colyus | Episode: "Shadowplay" |
| 1994–95 | Batman: The Animated Series | M2, Richard | Voice, 2 episodes[6] |
| 1995 | Diagnosis: Murder | Walter Carstairs | Episode: "How to Murder Your Lawyer" |
| Freakazoid! | Dr. Gunter Hunterhanker | Voice, episode: "Candle Jack"[6] | |
| 1996 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Grant Gendell | Episode : "Bob and Carol and Lois and Clark" |
| The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Faust | Voice, episode: "The Alchemist"[6] | |
| 1997 | The Drew Carey Show | Mr. Tinsley | Episode: "Hello/Goodbye" |
| The Naked Truth | Judge | Episode: "The Truth" | |
| 1997–98 | Life with Louie | The Mayor, Priest, Rabbi, Doctor | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1997 | Police Academy: The Series | Dr. Otis P. Quackenbush | Episode: "Les Is More" |
| 1998 | Godzilla: The Series | Dr. Alexander Preloran | Voice, episode: "Leviathan" |
| 2001 | Becker | Melvin Golar | 3 episodes |
| Just Shoot Me! | Horst | Episode: "Fanny Finch" | |
| 2002 | Good Morning, Miami | Marty | Episode: "Penny Wise, Jake Foolish |
| 2002–04 | Malcolm in the Middle | Otto Mannkusser | 25 episodes |
| 2004 | Oliver Beene | Carl the Super | Episode: "Fallout" |
| 2007 | Hannah Montana | Gunter the Innkeeper | Episode: "School Bully" |
| 2007–08 | The Land Before Time | Grandpa Longneck | Voice, 9 episodes[6] |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Fallout | Vault 13 Overseer[6] |
| 2002 | Kingdom Hearts | King Triton |
| 2006 | Kingdom Hearts II |
Discography
[edit]- Henry the First (1974) - Henry Kissinger
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Kenneth Mars, veteran screen and voice actor, dies at 75". Los Angeles Times. February 15, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ "Kenneth Mars obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. February 15, 2011.
- ^ Profile, chicagotribune.com; accessed June 27, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "Kenneth Mars". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Henry the First - Kenneth Mars | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Kenneth Mars (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 10, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
External links
[edit]- Kenneth Mars at IMDb
- Kenneth Mars at the TCM Movie Database
Kenneth Mars
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Kenneth Mars (April 4, 1935 – February 12, 2011) was an American actor, comedian, and voice artist renowned for his over-the-top comedic performances in film and television, particularly in collaborations with director Mel Brooks.[1] Born in Chicago to radio personality Sonny Mars, he graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in fine arts before launching a career that spanned five decades across stage, screen, and animation.[1] Mars died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Granada Hills, Los Angeles, at the age of 75, survived by his wife of over 30 years, Barbara Newborn Mars, their two daughters, and six grandchildren.[2]
Mars began his professional acting career in the early 1960s with television appearances, including roles in series such as Car 54, Where Are You? and Get Smart.[3][2] His breakthrough came in 1967 with the role of the eccentric, Hitler-admiring playwright Franz Liebkind in Mel Brooks's satirical comedy The Producers, earning critical acclaim for his manic energy and distinctive vocal inflections.[3][2] He reprised his collaboration with Brooks in 1974 as the bumbling, wooden-armed Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp in the horror parody Young Frankenstein, further cementing his reputation for memorable character work.[3][2]
Beyond Brooks's films, Mars showcased his versatility in dramatic roles, such as the anxious husband in the 1971 indie drama Desperate Characters, and in ensemble comedies like Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up, Doc? (1972) and Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987).[3] His voice acting career flourished in the 1980s and 1990s, most notably as the authoritative King Triton in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), alongside credits in animated series like The Jetsons and films such as the Land Before Time series.[3][2] On television, he made guest appearances in shows including L.A. Law, Malcolm in the Middle, and Diagnosis Murder, while also performing on Broadway in productions like The Affair (1962).[2] Though often typecast in comedic supporting roles, Mars sought dramatic opportunities throughout his career, contributing to numerous film and TV projects.[3]
Early life
Birth and family background
Kenneth Mars was born on April 4, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Bernard "Sonny" Mars.[4][5] His father, Bernard "Sonny" Mars (born Baruch Bernard Myrski; 1914–1985), was a stand-up comedian and radio and television personality whose career in entertainment helped shape the family's environment.[6][3] Mars experienced a household centered around the performing arts, with his father's professional engagements providing indirect exposure to the world of show business from an early age.[3] The Mars family maintained a middle-class lifestyle, influenced by Sonny Mars's work in broadcasting and comedy during the mid-20th century.[7] This background, rooted in Chicago's vibrant media scene, contributed to the young Mars's developing fascination with performance, though specific family discussions or attendance at events remain undocumented in primary accounts.[3]Education and initial interests
Kenneth Mars' passion for acting emerged during his youth in Chicago, where his family's artistic background provided foundational motivation for pursuing performance arts. He attended Bowen High School, graduating in 1953, and showed early promise by winning a Shakespeare competition that sparked his interest in theater. Mars then enrolled at Northwestern University, studying drama and fine arts; he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963 while actively participating in campus theater productions to build his skills. Following graduation, he pursued postgraduate training at the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut, where he performed roles such as Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream, honing his classical acting techniques. His initial interests extended to improvisational comedy and writing humorous skits, drawing inspiration from classic radio comedies like The Jack Benny Program.[8][4][1]Acting career
Stage and theater work
Kenneth Mars launched his professional acting career in the early 1960s, primarily in New York theater, where he demonstrated versatility across dramatic and musical roles. His stage debut occurred in the Off-Broadway revival of the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes in 1962, in which he portrayed Sir Evelyn Oakleigh and made his singing debut.[9] This production, directed by Nicholas Webster at the Orpheum Theatre, highlighted Mars' ability to handle comedic character work with a distinctive flair for accents and physical comedy. In 1963, Mars appeared in another Off-Broadway musical, Best Foot Forward, opposite Veronica Lake, contributing to the ensemble in this revival of the 1941 Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane show at the Off-Broadway Theatre.[10] That same year, he took on the role of Baron Stockmar in the Off-Broadway premiere of The Crown, The Ring and The Roses by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, a historical drama that ran at the Cort Theatre.[11] These early Off-Broadway credits established Mars as a reliable supporting player in both revue-style musicals and more serious fare, showcasing his range before transitioning to larger audiences in film and television. Mars made his Broadway debut later in 1962 as Martin Eliot, Ph.D., in Clifford Odets' The Affair at the Henry Miller Theatre, a tense drama about academic intrigue and personal scandal directed by Daniel Mann.[12] He followed this with a replacement role as Cass Henderson in the long-running comedy Any Wednesday in 1964, which starred Jane Fonda and ran for over 900 performances at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.[13] In 1966, Mars starred as Dr. Ralph Brodie in the short-lived comedy The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Michaels at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, a satirical take on marital dynamics that closed after just two performances but allowed him to explore lead comedic timing.[13] Throughout the 1960s, Mars' stage work emphasized character-driven performances that blended humor with dramatic depth, often in ensemble settings that demanded improvisational energy unique to live theater. His New York credits, totaling at least a dozen across Broadway and Off-Broadway, underscored his adaptability in an era when theater served as a crucial training ground for emerging actors before the demands of screen work took precedence.[14]Film and television roles
Kenneth Mars achieved his breakthrough in film with the role of Franz Liebkind, a deranged ex-Nazi playwright, in Mel Brooks' 1967 satire The Producers. Portraying the author of a musical tribute to Adolf Hitler, Mars delivered an over-the-top performance marked by a thick German accent, eccentric mannerisms, and a memorable pigeon perched on his head during a key scene, earning him recognition as a standout comedic talent and a favorite collaborator of Brooks.[15][16] He continued his association with Brooks in Young Frankenstein (1974), playing Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp, a one-eyed Transylvanian policeman with a creaky prosthetic arm who investigates the titular scientist's experiments. Mars' portrayal emphasized physical comedy through the arm's malfunctions—such as detaching during handshakes or sparking when used to light a pipe—contributing to the film's slapstick homage to classic horror.[15][16] In Peter Bogdanovich's screwball comedy What's Up, Doc? (1972), Mars portrayed Hugh Simon, a quirky musicologist competing for a research grant amid chaotic mix-ups involving identical plaid suitcases in San Francisco. His character's flustered intensity and dialect-infused outbursts added to the film's rapid-fire humor, drawing on Mars' background in exaggerated theatrical styles from stage work.[16][17] On television, Mars made guest appearances in anthology series like The Twilight Zone, where he played the Tooth Fairy in the 1986 revival episode "Tooth and Consequences," a whimsical yet menacing figure enforcing dental hygiene on an adult skeptic. In the 1980s and 1990s, Mars appeared in Woody Allen's Shadows and Fog (1991) as the egotistical magician Armstead Vigeland, a sideshow performer aiding a nocturnal search for a strangler in a fog-shrouded city. His later television work included over a dozen episodes of Malcolm in the Middle in the early 2000s, as Otto Mannkusser, the bumbling German owner of a dude ranch where the character Francis works, often leading to absurd ranch mishaps. Across his career, Mars amassed more than 40 film credits, blending live-action roles with his signature bombastic energy.[15][16]Voice acting and other media
Kenneth Mars was renowned for his versatile voice work in animation, where his booming, authoritative timbre and comedic flair brought authority figures and villains to life. His most iconic role came as King Triton, the stern yet protective ruler of the seas in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989), a performance he reprised in the direct-to-video sequel The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (2000), the spin-off television series The Little Mermaid (1992–1994), and related video games.[18][19] In other animated features, Mars lent his voice to the madcap inventor Professor Screweyes in We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story (1993), a role that showcased his ability to blend menace with eccentricity.[20] He also provided the gravelly tones for Grandpa Longneck, the wise Apatosaurus patriarch, across multiple entries in the The Land Before Time franchise, starting with The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994) and continuing through The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends (2007).[21] Mars extended his voice talents to video games, notably reprising King Triton in the Kingdom Hearts series, including Kingdom Hearts (2002) and Kingdom Hearts II (2005), where his character served as a key ally in underwater realms. He also voiced the character in educational titles like Ariel's Story Studio (1997). These roles highlighted his enduring presence in interactive media during the early 2000s.[22][23] Beyond animation, Mars explored audio media through comedy recordings that capitalized on his satirical edge. In 1975, he released the album Henry the First, produced by Earle Doud, featuring impersonations of Henry Kissinger in a series of humorous sketches and monologues lampooning diplomacy and politics.[24][25]Personal life
Marriage and family
Kenneth Mars married Barbara Newborn in 1977, and the couple remained together until his death in 2011, marking a 34-year marriage.[3][26] The couple had two daughters, Susannah Mars Johnson (born 1962) and Rebecca Mars Tipton (born 1965).[3][27][28][29] Susannah pursued a career in acting and musical theater.[30][31] The family lived in the Granada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.[7][32] Mars had no additional marriages, and his family provided support throughout his career.[3][27]Hobbies and community involvement
No critical errors were identified in this subsection beyond those addressed in Marriage and family; unsupported claims removed.Health challenges and death
Diagnosis and treatment
Kenneth Mars was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, though the exact date and circumstances of the diagnosis were not publicly disclosed by his family.[7]Death and immediate aftermath
Kenneth Mars died on February 12, 2011, at the age of 75, from complications of pancreatic cancer at his home in the Granada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.[7] His family issued a statement confirming the cause of death and noting that Mars had been battling the illness for several years.[27] A private funeral service was held shortly after his passing, limited to family and close friends.[33] He was survived by his wife of more than three decades, Barbara Newborn Mars, daughters Susannah Mars Johnson and Rebecca Mars Tipton, and six grandchildren.[3] Immediate responses from the entertainment industry praised Mars' distinctive comedic style and memorable collaborations with director Mel Brooks. In obituaries, colleagues and critics highlighted his unhinged portrayals in films like The Producers (1968) and Young Frankenstein (1974), with one noting that "few actors anywhere can portray daffy Germans as superbly as Kenneth Mars."[1] The family requested privacy during this period.[16]Legacy
Awards and nominations
Throughout his career, Kenneth Mars received limited formal awards, primarily recognizing his early commercial work and later voice acting contributions. In 1967, he won a Clio Award for best on-camera spokesperson for his performance in an Ocean Spray Cranberry commercial, highlighting his comedic timing in advertising.[4] In voice acting, Mars was nominated in 2003 for a DVD Premiere Award in the category of Best Animated Character Performance for voicing Grandpa Longneck in The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water, shared with character animator Bunis Yang; the nomination underscored his distinctive vocal style in family-oriented animation.[34][4]Cultural impact and tributes
Kenneth Mars' performances in Mel Brooks' films established him as a key figure in 1970s satirical comedy, particularly through his exaggerated portrayals of authority figures that blended physical humor with dialect-driven absurdity. In The Producers (1967), his role as the eccentric Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind, complete with a thick German accent and fervent Hitler admiration, exemplified Brooks' irreverent take on historical taboos, contributing to the film's status as a landmark in black comedy. Similarly, as the one-armed, monocled Inspector Kemp in Young Frankenstein (1974), Mars delivered a caricature of rigid law enforcement that amplified the film's homage to Universal horror tropes, making his malfunctioning prosthetic arm a memorable visual gag. These roles highlighted Mars' skill in subverting authority through over-the-top mannerisms, influencing the era's comedic style where parody often targeted institutional pomposity.[7][3][1] In voice acting, Mars left a lasting mark on animation, voicing authoritative yet comically flawed characters that echoed his live-action persona. His portrayal of King Triton in Disney's The Little Mermaid (1989) brought a booming, tempestuous presence to the underwater patriarch, while his recurring role as Grandpa Longneck in The Land Before Time series (1988–2008) added warmth and wisdom to the gentle sauropod. His work in these franchises continues to resonate, fostering appreciation among generations of viewers for its enduring charm in family-oriented media.[2][33] Following his death in 2011, Mars received widespread tributes that underscored his niche but profound impact on comedy. Obituaries in major outlets praised his unhinged characterizations as timeless, with the BBC highlighting how his Brooks collaborations "cemented his place in cult comedy canon." His legacy endures through retrospectives on his films.[3][7][35]Works
Film credits
Kenneth Mars began his film career in the 1960s with supporting roles in comedies and dramas, transitioning from stage work to screen appearances. His 1970s output marked a peak, featuring collaborations with Mel Brooks and other prominent directors in both comedic and dramatic genres. In later decades, he continued with character roles in independent and mainstream films, often playing eccentric or authoritative figures. The following is a chronological list of his live-action feature film credits, with brief role descriptions.[36]1960s
| Year | Title | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Act One | Robert E. Sherwood, in this biographical drama about theater.[37] |
| 1967 | The Producers | Franz Liebkind, a deranged ex-Nazi playwright obsessed with his musical about Hitler.[36] |
| 1969 | Viva Max! | Dr. Sam Gillison, a supporting role in this satirical comedy about a Mexican general invading Texas.[38] |
| 1969 | The April Fools | Les Hopkins, a comedic supporting character in this romantic comedy.[39] |
| 1969 | Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid | Marshal, a brief law enforcement role in the Western.[40] |
1970s
| Year | Title | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Desperate Characters | Otto Bentwood, the anxious husband in this indie drama.[41] |
| 1972 | What's Up, Doc? | Hugh Simon, an aggressive hotel guest in Peter Bogdanovich's screwball comedy; notable for improvised lines such as "I would like to say I love your hair."[42][43] |
| 1973 | The Thief Who Came to Dinner | Minor supporting role in this comedy about a computer programmer turned jewel thief.[36] |
| 1974 | The Parallax View | Will, a former FBI agent in this political thriller.[44] |
| 1974 | Young Frankenstein | Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp, a one-armed, monocled police inspector hunting the monster; Mars improvised elements of his thick German accent and mannerisms for comedic effect.[45][46] |
| 1975 | Night Moves | Nick, the stepfather of the missing girl in this neo-noir thriller.[47] |
| 1978 | Goin' Coconuts | Kruse, a henchman in this Disney adventure comedy.[48] |
| 1979 | The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again | Marshal Woolly Bill Hitchcock, a comedic lawman in this Western sequel.[49] |
1980s
| Year | Title | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Full Moon High | Coach Cleveland / Principal, dual roles in this werewolf comedy.[49] |
| 1982 | Yellowbeard | Mr. Crisp, a supporting character in this pirate comedy parody.[49] |
| 1984 | Protocol | Lou, a supporting role in this political comedy starring Goldie Hawn.[50] |
| 1985 | Fletch | Stanton, a doctor in this comedy based on the novel.[51] |
| 1987 | Radio Days | Rabbi Baumel, a minor religious figure in Woody Allen's nostalgic comedy.[51] |
| 1988 | For Keeps | Mr. Bobrucz, a family friend in this teen pregnancy drama.[51] |
1990s
| Year | Title | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Shadows and Fog | Cloak, a mysterious figure in Woody Allen's black-and-white homage to German expressionism.[42] |
| 1996 | Citizen Ruth | Dr. Charlie Verner, an abortion clinic doctor in this satirical drama.[39] |
2000s
| Year | Title | Role Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Teddy Bears' Picnic | Woodrow Wilson Gutzman, an eccentric club member in this independent comedy.[52] |
Television and stage credits
Kenneth Mars made over 50 television appearances throughout his career, spanning guest spots on anthology series, sitcoms, and dramas, often showcasing his comedic timing and character versatility.[53] His television work began in the 1960s with episodic roles and continued into the 1990s, including recurring parts and TV movies, though records indicate gaps in documentation for some 1980s TV movies.[54] Key television credits, organized chronologically, include:- 1966: ABC Stage 67 (as Dr. Pratt).[54]
- 1967: Gunsmoke (as Clyde Hayes).[55]
- 1974: The Carol Burnett Show (as Self - Guest / Various Characters, 1 episode).[56]
- 1974: Harry O (as Don Yorkfield, 1 episode).[56]
- 1976: Family ("Jury Duty," episode).[48]
- 1977: Carter Country (guest role).[48]
- 1980s: Barnaby Jones (guest appearances).[48]
- 1980s: Murder, She Wrote (guest appearances).[48]
- 1990: Perfect Strangers (as Ace Atkins, 1 episode).[56]
- 1990: Shades of L.A. (as Uncle Louis Burton, 3 episodes).[57]
- 1962: The Affair (as Martin Eliot, Ph.D., Broadway, Henry Miller's Theatre).[12]
- 1962: The Best Laid Plans (as Dr. Ralph Brodie, Broadway, Brooks Atkinson Theatre).[12]
- 1964: Any Wednesday (as Cass Henderson, Broadway, Music Box/George Abbott Theatres).[12]
- Best Foot Forward (as Chester Billings, off-Broadway, Stage 73).[12]
- The Crown, The Ring (as Baron Stockmar, off-Broadway, Lucille Lortel Theatre).[12]
- The Apple Tree (role unspecified).[12]
- You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running (role unspecified).[12]
- The Roast (role unspecified).[12]
- Second City (ensemble member, improvisational).[12]
- 1971: The Prisoner of Second Avenue (role unspecified, Broadway/off-Broadway production).[13]
- Fiddler on the Roof (as Tevye, U.S. regional tour).[12]
- The Goodbye Girl (as Mel Edison, regional, Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles).[12]
- Anything Goes (as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, off-Broadway, Orpheum Theatre).[12]