Kenneth Mars
Kenneth Mars | |
---|---|
Mars in 1967 | |
Born | Chicago, Illinois,U.S.[1] | April 4, 1935
Died | February 12, 2011 | (aged 75)
Other names | Ken Mars |
Alma mater | Northwestern University[1] |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1962–2008 |
Spouse |
Barbara Newborn (m.1977) |
Children | 2 |
Kenneth Mars(April 4, 1935 – February 12, 2011)[1]was an American actor. He appeared in twoMel Brooksfilms: as the derangedNaziplaywrightFranz LiebkindinThe Producers(1967) and Police Inspector Hans Wilhelm Friedrich Kemp inYoung Frankenstein(1974).[2]He also appeared inPeter Bogdanovich'sWhat's Up Doc?(1972) as well asWoody Allen'sRadio Days(1987) andShadows and Fog(1991).
Mars appeared in two seasons ofMalcolm in the Middleas Otto Mannkusser, Francis's well-meaning but dimwitted boss and a German immigrant who owns adude ranch.He voicedKing Triton,Ariel's father, in the 1989Disneyanimated filmThe Little Mermaidand itssequel,as well as its companiontelevision series,and theKingdom Heartsseries. He also did several other animated voice-over film roles such as Littlefoot's grandfather in theLand Before Timeseries(1994–2008) and that of Professor Screweyes inWe're Back! A Dinosaur's Story(1993), and King Colbert (Prince Cornelius's father) inThumbelina(1994). He was also the voice of Tuskernini fromDarkwing Duck(1991–1992).
Early life
[edit]Mars was born inChicago.His father, Bernard "Sonny" Mars, was a radio and television personality.[3]Kenneth studied fine arts and acting atNorthwestern University.[1]
Career
[edit]Mars made his acting debut in 1962 as a book publisher onCar 54, Where Are You?He later appeared on such television series asGunsmoke,Get Smart,McMillan & Wife,Columbo,Harry O,The Bob Crane Show,andPolice Woman.[4]He also appeared in dramatic roles such as Will Turner, a former FBI agent, inWarren Beatty'sThe Parallax View.
Mars played Harry Zarakartos on theRichard Benjamin-Paula Prentiss1967CBS-TVsitcomHe & She.[4]He was featured in a number of small roles in broadcasts such as theMisfits of Sciencepilot episode and theStar Trek: Deep Space Nineepisode "Shadowplay".He was cast oppositeBette DavisinHello Mother, Goodbye!,a 1973 television pilot aired byNBCbut never picked up as a series. From 1970 to 1974, Mars guest starred in five episodes ofLove, American Style,playing various characters.[4]
In 1977, Mars became a series regular on both theSha Na Navariety series and onNorman Lear's talk show parodyFernwood 2-Nightin the recurring role of eccentric William W.D. 'Bud' Prize, from the Fernwood Chamber of Commerce. He continued the role on the revampedAmerica 2-Nightin 1978. In 2001, Mars portrayed a comedic famous but washed-up photographer onJust Shoot Me.Before his death, his final television roles were Otto, the German dude ranch owner onFox'sMalcolm in the Middle,an appearance onDisney Channel'sHannah Montana,and a reprise of his role as Grandpa Longneck inThe Land Before Timetelevision series.[4]
In 1969, Mars portrayed a marshal trying to raise a posse to pursueButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,only to have his address to the townsfolk hijacked by a friendly bicycle salesman. Mars frequently played characters with exaggerated accents. He portrayedGermancharacters inThe Producers(1967) andYoung Frankenstein(1974), and played aCroatianmusicologist, Hugh Simon, inWhat's Up, Doc?(1972). His first broadly accented character was that of Sir Evelyn Oakleigh in the 1962Off-Broadwayrevival of theCole PortermusicalAnything Goes.He also appeared in the 1962 Broadway playThe Affair.[citation needed]
In 1975, ABC/Dunhill released a comedy LP produced byEarl Doud,Henry the First,featuring Mars in a number of comedy bits asHenry Kissinger,including a cover version of theBachman–Turner Overdrivesong, "Takin' Care of Business".[5]
Mars cultivated a lengthy voice acting career, launching it by voicing several characters onUncle Croc's Block.He voiced the roles ofAriel's fatherKing TritoninThe Little Mermaidand in the video gamesKingdom HeartsandKingdom Hearts II.
He voiced Littlefoot's Grandpa Longneck inTheLand Before Timeseries of filmsand the spin-off television series, and the villainous Professor Screweyes inWe're Back! A Dinosaur's Story.He played some minor roles on the popular radio show,Adventures in Odyssey.He played Sweet William inFievel's American Tails,which took place afterAn American Tail: Fievel Goes West.He voiced characters on many animated television series, such asThe Smurfs,The Biskitts,A Pup Named Scooby-Doo,TaleSpin,andAnimaniacs,as well as video games such asFalloutandKingdom Hearts.
In 2008, Mars retired from acting after being diagnosed withpancreatic cancertwo years prior.[1]His final performance was as Grandpa Longneck in the animated television seriesThe Land Before Time.[1]
Personal life
[edit]In 1977, Mars married Barbara Newborn. They had two daughters, Susannah and Rebecca. The marriage lasted until his death in 2011.[1]
Illness and death
[edit]In 2006, Mars was diagnosed withpancreatic cancerthat had already spread beyond his pancreas.[1]His cancer made him so ill that he could not reprise his role as King Triton forThe Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning,soJim Cummingstook over the role. As well as being unable to voice Triton, he also could not voice Grandpa Longneck inThe Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends.(Littlefoot's Grandpa does appear in the film, but has no lines.) He died 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 |
1990–91 | TaleSpin | Heimlich Menudo / Buzz | Voice, 3 episodes |
1990 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Flavio | Voice, episode: "Hollywood Plucky"[6] |
Timeless Tales from Hallmark | Mr. Budgeknot | Episode: "Thumbelina" | |
1991 | 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" | |
2002–04 | 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]- ^abcdefghi"Kenneth Mars, veteran screen and voice actor, dies at 75".Los Angeles Times.February 15, 2011.Retrieved2011-02-23.
- ^"Kenneth Mars obituary".The Daily Telegraph.London, UK. February 15, 2011.
- ^Profile,chicagotribune.com; accessed June 27, 2015.
- ^abcd"Kenneth Mars".TVGuide.com.TV Guide.RetrievedApril 24,2019.
- ^"Henry the First - Kenneth Mars | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".AllMusic.
- ^abcdefghijklmno"Kenneth Mars (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedSeptember 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 opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
External links
[edit]- 1935 births
- 2011 deaths
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American comedians
- Male actors from Chicago
- 20th-century American comedians
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American male video game actors
- American male comedians
- Dunhill Records artists
- Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California
- People from Granada Hills, Los Angeles
- Northwestern University alumni
- Comedians from Chicago