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Barney Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Barney Martin (March 3, 1923 – March 21, 2005) was an American actor. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II, he returned to his native New York City and served as a police officer. He got his start as a comedian while still a police officer, writing jokes for his deputy commissioners' speeches.
Entering show business in the 1950s as a writer for Steve Allen, he was discovered by Mel Brooks in 1968, who cast him in The Producers. He went on to act in dozens of films, including the role of Liza Minnelli's unemployed father in Arthur (1981).
In 1975, Martin originated the role of Amos Hart in Chicago. He appeared in many more musicals during his career, most notably South Pacific, The Fantasticks and How Now, Dow Jones.
Most of Martin's work has been in television, where he has had a long career as a character actor. He is best-known for playing Morty Seinfeld, father of Jerry, on the popular sitcom Seinfeld.
Martin once commented that many Jewish Seinfeld fans told him how much his character reminded them of their father. Martin in fact was Irish Catholic.
At age 82, he died of cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles, California.
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