- Barney Martin
Infobox actor
caption =
birthdate =March 3 1923
birthplace =Queens, New York
deathdate = death date and age|2005|3|21|1923|3|3|mf=y
deathplace =Studio City, California Barney Martin (
March 3 1923 –March 21 2005 ) was an Americanactor .Biography
Early life
Born in
Queens, New York City , Martin served in the U.S. Army Air Force duringWorld War II and then was anNYPD officer for twenty years. He got his start as acomedian while still a police officer, giving humorous presentations to the deputy commissioners.Career
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). On television, he was often seen as one of Oscar's and Felix's poker regulars in "The Odd Couple."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 playingMorty Seinfeld , father of Jerry, on the popularsitcom "Seinfeld ".Martin once commented that many
Jew ish "Seinfeld" fans told him how much his character reminded them of their father. Martin in fact was IrishCatholic .Fact|date=November 2007On
March 21 ,2005 , he died just a few weeks after his 82nd birthday oflung cancer in Studio City, Los Angeles,California .References
*cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/25/arts/television/25martin.html|title=Barney Martin, 82, Actor on 'Seinfeld,' Is Dead|author=
Associated Press |publisher="The New York Times "|date=2005-03-25 |accessdate=2008-08-08External links
*imdb name|id=0551949|name=Barney Martin
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