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Marty Feldman

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This article is about the actor. For the football player, seeMarty Feldman (American football).

Marty Feldman
Feldman in 1969
Born
Martin Alan Feldman

(1934-07-08)8 July 1934
London,England
Died2 December 1982(1982-12-02)(aged 48)
Mexico City,Mexico
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • comedy writer
Years active1948–1982
Spouse
Lauretta Sullivan
​
(m.1959)​
Children2
AwardsBAFTAs:Best Light Entertainment Performance
1968Marty
Best Writer
1968Marty

Martin Alan Feldman(8 July 1934[1]– 2 December 1982) was a British actor, comedian and comedy writer. He was known for hisprominent,misalignedeyes.[2][3][4]

He initially gained prominence as a writer withBarry Tookon theITVsitcomBootsie and Snudgeand theBBC Radiocomedy programmeRound the Horne.He became known as a performer onAt Last the 1948 Show(co-writing the "Four Yorkshiremen sketch"whichMonty Pythonwould perform) andMarty,the latter of which won Feldman twoBritish Academy Television AwardsincludingBest Entertainment Performancein 1969.

Feldman went on to appear in films such asThe Bed Sitting RoomandEvery Home Should Have One,the latter of which was one of the most popular comedies at the British box office in 1970.[5]In 1971, he starred in the comedy-variety sketch series for ATV calledThe Marty Feldman Comedy Machine.In 1974, he appeared asIgorinMel Brooks'Young Frankenstein,for which he received the firstSaturn AwardforBest Supporting Actor.He died in 1982 of a heart attack while filmingYellowbeardinMexico City.[6]

Early life[edit]

Feldman was born on 8 July 1934 inCanning Town,East London,the son of Cecilia (née Crook) and Myer Feldman, a gown manufacturer,[7]who was a Jewish immigrant fromKyiv,Ukraine.He recalled his childhood as "solitary" especially during his years of evacuation to the countryside during theSecond World War.[8]

Feldman suffered fromthyroiddisease and developedGraves' ophthalmopathy,causing his eyes toprotrudeand becomemisaligned.Bruce Baumdrew inspiration therefrom to record "Marty Feldman Eyes", a parody of "Bette Davis Eyes",in 1981.

A childhood injury, a car crash, a boating accident, and reconstructive eye surgery may also have contributed to his appearance.[2][4][8][9]He later described his appearance as a factor in his career success: "If I aspired to beRobert Redford,I'd have my eyes straightened and my nose fixed and end up like every other lousy actor, with two lines onKojak.But this way, I'm a novelty. "[10]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Leaving school at 15, Feldman worked at theDreamlandfunfair inMargate,[8]but had dreams of a career as ajazztrumpeter, and performed in the first group in which tenor saxophonistTubby Hayeswas a member.[11]Feldman joked that he was "the world's worst trumpet player."[11]By the age of 20, he had decided to pursue a career as a comedian.

Although his early performing career was undistinguished, Feldman became part of a comedy act—Morris, Marty and Mitch—who made their first television appearance on theBBCseriesShowcasein April 1955.[1]Later in the decade, Feldman worked on the scripts forEducating Archiein both its radio and television incarnations, withRonald Chesneyand later, Ronald Wolfe.

In 1954, Feldman metBarry Tookwhile both were working as performers, and with Took, he eventually formed an enduring writing partnership which lasted until 1974.[1]They wrote a few episodes ofThe Army Game(1960) and the bulk ofBootsie and Snudge(1960–62), both situation comedies made byGranada Televisionfor theITVnetwork. ForBBC Radiothey wroteRound the Horne(1964–67), their best-remembered comedy series, which starredKenneth HorneandKenneth Williams.[8](The last series ofRound the Horne,in 1968, was written by others.) This work placed Feldman and Took 'in the front rank of comedy writers', according toDenis Norden.[8]

Feldman then became the chief writer and script editor onThe Frost Report(1966–67). With John Law, he co-wrote the much-shown"Class" sketch,in whichJohn Cleese,Ronnie BarkerandRonnie Corbettfaced the audience, with their descending order of height, suggesting their relative social status as upper class (Cleese), middle class (Barker) and working class (Corbett).[8]

Ascent[edit]

The television sketch comedy seriesAt Last the 1948 Showraised Feldman's profile as a performer. The other three participants (futureMonty PythonmembersGraham ChapmanandJohn Cleese;and future star ofThe GoodiesTim Brooke-Taylor) needed a fourth cast member, and had Feldman in mind.[8]In a sketch broadcast on 1 March 1967, Feldman's character harassed a patient shop assistant (played by Cleese) regarding a series of fictitious books, achieving success withEthel the Aardvark Goes Quantity Surveying.His character inAt Last the 1948 Showwas often called Mr. Pest, according to Cleese.[12]Feldman was co-author—along with Chapman, Cleese and Brooke-Taylor—of the sketch"Four Yorkshiremen",which was written forAt Last the 1948 Show,later adapted by Monty Python for their stage performances.[8]

Feldman was given his own series on the BBC,Marty,in 1968;[8]it featured Brooke-Taylor,John JunkinandRoland MacLeod,with Cleese as one of the writers.[8]Feldman won twoBAFTAawards. The second series in 1969 was retitledIt's Marty(this title being retained for theDVDrelease of the series).

Martyproved popular enough with an international audience (the first series winning the Golden Rose Award at Montreux) to launch a film career. Feldman's first feature film role was inEvery Home Should Have One(1970).[8]

After 1970[edit]

Promotional photo forThe Marty Feldman Comedy Machine,1972

The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine(1971–72) was a television series co-produced byAssociated Television(ATV) in the UK and theAmerican Broadcasting Company,produced at ATV'sElstree Studios,near London. This vehicle lasted for just one series.[13]

In 1974,Dennis Main Wilsonproduced a short BBC sketch series for Feldman titledMarty Back Together Again—a reference to reports about the star's health—but it never captured the impact of the earlier series.

On film, inMel Brooks'Young Frankenstein(1974), Feldman playedIgor(pronounced "EYE-gore", a comic response toGene Wilder's claim that 'it's pronounced FRONK-EN-STEEN'). Many lines inYoung Frankensteinwere improvised. Wilder says he had Feldman in mind when he wrote the part.[8]

Feldman's performances on American television includedThe Dean Martin Show.

In 1976, Feldman ventured intoItalian cinema,starring withDayle Haddonin thesex comedy40 Gradi All'Ombra del Lenzuolo(Sex with a Smile). He later appeared inThe Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brotherand Brooks'Silent Movie,as well as directing and starring inThe Last Remake of Beau Geste.He also guest-starred in "Arabian Nights", an episode ofThe Muppet Showin which he was teamed up with severalSesame Streetcharacters, especiallyCookie Monster,with whom he shared a playful cameo comparing their eyes side by side.

Recording career[edit]

During the course of his career, Feldman recorded two albums,Marty(1968) andI Feel a Song Going Off(1969), re-released in 1971 asThe Crazy World of Marty Feldman.The songs on his second album were written byDenis King,John Junkin and Bill Solly (a writer forMax BygravesandThe Two Ronnies).[14]It was later released as aCDin 2007.

Personal life[edit]

From January 1959 until his death in 1982, Feldman was married to Lauretta Sullivan, with whom he had two children. She died in 2010, at the age of 74, inStudio City, Los Angeles.[15]Feldman's peers have reported, in a number of biographies, that he was highly attractive to women in spite of his unconventional facial appearance.[16]He spent time in jazz clubs, as he found a parallel between 'riffing' in a comedy partnership and the improvisation of jazz.[8][17]

Politically, Feldman was described as an "avowedsocialist",[18]telling one interviewer, "I'm a socialist by conviction, if not by lifestyle",[19]and another, "I'm a socialist from way back, but in order to pay my back taxes I have to live in America to earn enough money to pay the back tax I owe to the socialist government that I voted in."[8]He later joked that when aLabourcabinet minister said to him, "Of course you vote Labour", Feldman replied, "No, I don't, because I'm a socialist!"[20]Nevertheless, he generally did not seriously discuss politics in public, and once stated: "I feel it would be presumptuous for me to make any statements about American politics because I'm a guest here."[21]

An exception was during a promotional tour forThe Last Remake of Beau Geste,when he denounced the campaign led byAnita Bryantagainst homosexuality.[22]Another exception was after the murder of his friendJohn Lennon.Feldman subsequently became an anti-gun advocate in the US, even wearing an anti-gun t-shirt and hat pin during his appearance on the late night TV showFridays.[23]

In 1971, Feldman gave evidence in favour of the defendants in the obscenity trial forOzmagazine.[8]He would not swear on the Bible, choosing instead to affirm.[8]Throughout his testimony, he mocked the judge after it was implied that Feldman had no religion because he was not Christian.[8]

Feldman was alacto-ovo vegetarian.In a 1979 interview, when asked how long he had practised this, he stated: "I was about five and a half or six when I converted; I'm forty-three now, so it's been approximately thirty-eight years."[24]

Feldman's gravestone in Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Feldman wrote an autobiography,Eye Marty: the newly discovered autobiography of a comic genius,which was brought to light following Lauretta's death. It was published in 2012 with a foreword byEric Idle.[17]

Death[edit]

Feldman was a heavy cigarette smoker for most of his life, often smoking five packets daily. He died of aheart attack[10]in a hotel room inMexico Cityon 2 December 1982 at age 48[6]during the making of the filmYellowbeard;the film was subsequently dedicated to him. According to an editor's note in Feldman's posthumously published autobiography,Graham Chapmanwas with him at the time of his death.[25]

Feldman is buried in the Garden of Heritage atForest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery,California, near his idol,Buster Keaton.[8]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1969 The Bed Sitting Room Nurse Arthur
1970 Every Home Should Have One Teddy Brown
1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Man kicking Tree cameo segment "Sloth"; writer segment "Lust"
1972 Today Mexico, Tomorrow the World Football player Marty short film
1974 Young Frankenstein Igor
1975 The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother Sgt. Orville Stanley Sacker
Closed Up-Tight Cat burglar
1976 40 gradi all'ombra del lenzuolo(Sex With a Smile) Alex segment "La Guardia del Corpo"
Silent Movie Marty Eggs
1977 The Last Remake of Beau Geste Dagobert 'Digby' Geste

Also director & writer

1980 In God We Tru$t Brother Ambrose Also director & writer
1982 Slapstick of Another Kind Sylvester
1983 Yellowbeard Gilbert (final film role)

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1967 At Last the 1948 Show various characters
1968–69 Marty/It's Marty
1970 Marty Amok! television special
1971 Marty Abroad television special
1971–72 The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine himself
1971–73 The Flip Wilson Show
1972 The Marty Feldman Show various television movie
1974 Marty Back Together Again various characters
1981 The Muppet Show himself television series – one episode, "Arabian Nights"

Radio series[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcOliver, John."Feldman, Marty (1934–1982)".BFI Screenonline.Retrieved18 November2015.
  2. ^ab"Marty Feldman:" Damn your eyes! "".Amc.Archived fromthe originalon 6 July 2018.Retrieved5 July2018.
  3. ^Doonan, Simon (2 November 2009)."Marty Feldman: Dead Cool".Thedailybeast.Retrieved5 July2018.
  4. ^abChilton, Martin (13 January 2016)."The mad world of Marty Feldman".The Daily Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved5 July2018.
  5. ^Harper, Sue (2011).British Film Culture in the 1970s: The Boundaries of Pleasure: The Boundaries of Pleasure.Edinburgh University Press. p. 269.ISBN9780748654260.
  6. ^abLawson, Carol (4 December 1982)."Marty Feldman, Film Comic, Victim Of Heart Attack At 48".The New York Times.Retrieved12 November2021.Marty Feldman, the wild-eyed British comedian [...] died Thursday in his hotel room in Mexico City.
  7. ^Took, Barry (September 2004).Feldman, Martin Alan [Marty] (1934–1982), comedian and scriptwriter.Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.ISBN978-0-19-861412-8.Archived fromthe originalon 18 October 2019.Retrieved30 January2015.
  8. ^abcdefghijklmnopqr"Marty Feldman: Six Degrees of Separation".BBC Two.13 August 2011.Retrieved18 November2015.
  9. ^"The Unorthodox Comedian - The Official Marty Feldman website!".Theofficialmartyfeldman.4 January 2016.Retrieved5 July2018.
  10. ^abLawson, Carol (4 December 1982)."Marty Feldman, Film Comic, Victim of Heart Attack at 48".The New York Times.
  11. ^abChilton, Martin (17 November 2011)."Marty Feldman – The Biography Of A Comedy Legend by Robert Ross: review".The Daily Telegraph.Archived fromthe originalon 19 November 2015.
  12. ^BBC Radio 2programmeEast End Boys,2014
  13. ^"Marty Feldman Comedy Machine (The): The Complete Series".Network ON AIR.1 November 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 4 May 2015.Retrieved9 January2020.
  14. ^"Marty – The Whowrotewhat Wotnot (series 1)".The Kettering(4). Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2011.Retrieved30 August2009.
  15. ^"Lauretta Sullivan Feldman".Los Angeles Times.15 April 2010.
  16. ^Ross, Robert (2011).Marty Feldman: The Biography of a Comedy Legend.Titan Books. p. 252.ISBN978-0-85768-602-2.[need quotation to verify]
  17. ^abFeldman, Marty (2016).eyE Marty: The Official Autobiography of Marty Feldman.Rare Bird Books.
  18. ^Mike Kuhlenbeck."Marty Fieldman versus the suits",Jewish Currents,June 29, 2016
  19. ^"Feldman has 'ideal equipment'",The Pittsburgh Press,January 11, 1976
  20. ^Marty Feldman: The Biography of a Comedy Legendby Robert Ross, chapter 15, footnote 17
  21. ^Wilkins, Barbara (29 August 1977)."Killer Looks".People.
  22. ^Mike Kuhlenbeck."Marty Feldman versus the Suits",Jewish Currents,29 June 2016
  23. ^"Fridays with Marty".The Official Marty Feldman Website.18 March 2016.
  24. ^Berry, Rynn(1979). "Marty Feldman".The Vegetarians.Brookline, MA: Autumn Press. p. 30.ISBN0-394-73633-8.
  25. ^Feldman, Marty (2012).eyE Marty: The Official Autobiography of Marty Feldman.Rare Bird Books. p. 7.

Further reading[edit]

  • Wilmut, Roger (1980).From Fringe to Flying Circus – Celebrating a Unique Generation of Comedy 1960–1980.Eyre Methuen.ISBN978-0-413-46950-2.

External links[edit]

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