21 Facts About Barney Martin

Barney Martin was an American actor, best known for playing Morty Seinfeld, father of Jerry, on the sitcom Seinfeld.

Barney Martin played supporting roles in Mel Brooks's The Producers, and the Dudley Moore comedy Arthur.

Barney Martin originated the role of Amos Hart in the 1976 Broadway production of Chicago.

Barney Martin was born in New York City on March 3,1923.

Barney Martin served in the US 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.

Barney Martin got his start as a comedian while still a police officer, providing deputy commissioners with humorous presentations.

Barney Martin 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.

Shortly after, Barney Martin co-starred with Tony Randall for two seasons in The Tony Randall Show as court reporter Jack Terwilliger.

Barney Martin was cast to play a character similar to Lear's earlier creation, Archie Bunker, but played as a dog.

In 1993, Barney Martin played the recurring role of "Pete Peters" on the Don Rickles sitcom Daddy Dearest.

In 1975, Barney Martin originated the role of Amos Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago, in which he introduced the song "Mr Cellophane".

Barney Martin appeared in many more musicals during his career, most notably South Pacific, The Fantasticks, and How Now, Dow Jones.

Much of Barney Martin's work has been in television, where he had a long career as a character actor.

Barney Martin played a gangster called the "Cheese Man" in a Golden Girls episode.

Barney Martin played a love interest for Thelma Harper in the Hawaii episode of Mama's Family, and he played the father of Frank Fontana on Murphy Brown.

Barney Martin appeared in an episode of Full House as Ranger Roy, the host of a popular kids' TV show.

In 1991, Barney Martin was cast as the fictional father of Jerry Seinfeld, Morty Seinfeld in the sitcom Seinfeld.

Barney Martin replaced Phil Bruns, who first portrayed the character in Season 1's "The Stake Out".

Barney Martin took on the role upon showrunners Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld deciding they wanted the character of Morty Seinfeld to be harsher, as they thought Bruns was too laid-back for the character.

Barney Martin retained this role until the series ended in 1998.

Barney Martin died of bladder cancer on March 21,2005, in Studio City, Los Angeles, California, at age 82.