Barney Martin
Biography
Barney Martin was an American actor and comedian who, after two decades as a New York City police detective, moved into show business and became most recognizable as Morty Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld's father, in the sitcom Seinfeld from 1991 to 1998. Born in New York City, he entered show business as Jackie Gleason's stand-in on The Honeymooners and did some writing for Steve Allen. Mel Brooks discovered him and put him in The Producers (1968). He played Hank in Charly (1968) and the unemployed father of Liza Minnelli's character in Arthur (1981) and Arthur 2: On the Rocks (1988). On Broadway he originated Amos Hart in Chicago and introduced Mr. Cellophane, and he also appeared in other musicals, including South Pacific and The Fantasticks. On television he co-starred as court reporter Jack Terwilliger in The Tony Randall Show and later played Pete Peters on Daddy Dearest. He died in 2005.
82years old at death
- Born Queens
- Died Studio City
- Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 25 years1963 to 1988
Every film, newest first
- 1988Arthur 2: On the RocksIMDb rating 4.7
- 1981ArthurIMDb rating 6.9
- 1968CharlyIMDb rating 6.9
- 1968The ProducersIMDb rating 7.5
- 1963Love with the Proper StrangerIMDb rating 7.2
Genres
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A first
In 1975, Barney Martin was the first to play Amos Hart in the Broadway musical Chicago, and he introduced the song "Mr. Cellophane" in that show.
A role that slipped away
Martin was cast as Morty Seinfeld on Seinfeld after Phil Bruns played the character in one episode; showrunners Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld wanted a harsher Morty than Bruns' laid-back version.
First role
Martin got his start as a stand-in for Jackie Gleason on The Honeymooners in 1955-56 and also wrote part time for Steve Allen in the 1950s. Mel Brooks discovered him and cast him in The Producers.
Barney Martin movies on Netflix
Most often with
Seven actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Gielgud's page
Liza Minnelli's page
Dudley Moore's page
Geraldine Fitzgerald's page
Stephen Elliott's page
Ted Ross's page
Also two films together1 more actor
- Thomas BarbourArthur 2: On the Rocks (1988) and Arthur (1981)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.