Barney Martin American actor Date of Birth: 03.03.1923 Country: USA

1. Biography of Barney Martin
2. Early Life and Military Service
3. Early Career
4. Television and Film Career
5. Later Career and "Seinfeld"
6. Personal Life and Death

Biography of Barney Martin

Barney Martin was an American actor, best known for his role as Morty Seinfeld, the father of the city neurotic and stand-up comedian Jerry, in the famous sitcom "Seinfeld." Throughout his career, Martin found success on television, in movies, on Broadway, and in local theater.

Early Life and Military Service

Barney Martin was born on March 3, 1923, in Queens, New York, USA. He was the son of a police official who served in the New York Tombs prison. During World War II, Barney joined the US Army Air Forces as a navigator and later became a police officer, receiving commendation for his bravery.

Early Career

While working as a police officer, Martin displayed a clear inclination towards comedy. In the early 1950s, he started performing in professional circles, selling his jokes and writing for the television game show "Name That Tune." He then caught the attention of the vaudeville show "The Steve Allen Show," with the support of his new friend Mel Brooks. Martin became confident in his ability to make people laugh.

Television and Film Career

By the late 1950s, Martin was regularly playing undercover roles in the television series "Candid Camera," where hidden camera footage was the main attraction. He also appeared in variety shows hosted by Ed Sullivan and Perry Como. Martin played the role of the hilariously funny Fats O'Bordemen in the TV series "Car 54, Where Are You?" and made his debut on the big screen in Alfred Hitchcock's 1951 thriller "Strangers on a Train" as a jury member. His name can be seen in the credits of films such as "Butterfield 8," "Requiem for a Heavyweight," and "The Out-of-Towners."

Later Career and "Seinfeld"

In 1968, Martin joined director Mel Brooks for his comedy "The Producers" and played Hank in Ralph Nelson's fantasy drama "Charly." However, Martin mainly performed on stage, including Broadway productions such as "South Pacific," "All American," "Street Scene," "How Now," "Dow Jones," and "Chicago." He also worked in regional theaters, appearing in plays such as "The Last of the Red Hot Lovers" and "The Fantasticks." Martin occasionally appeared on television, including episodes of "The Jury Story" and "The Subway Story" in the sitcom "The Odd Couple" starring Tony Randall and Jack Klugman. His friendship with Randall later helped him become a regular on the show "The Tony Randall Show" in 1976. Martin gained recognition on the big screen for his role as a motorcycle cop in Stanley Donen's musical comedy "Movie, Movie" in 1978 and as Ralph Marolla in Steve Gordon's award-winning dramedy "Arthur" with Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli. However, for television viewers, Martin will always be remembered as Morty Seinfeld in the sitcom "Seinfeld." He often worked alongside Liz Sheridan, who played his wife Helen. One of the most memorable episodes of "Seinfeld" featuring Martin is when his character Morty loses the condominium president election. The episode's script was directly related to Oliver Stone's biopic "Nixon," and Martin managed to infuse his role with a touch of seriousness reminiscent of the former US President, making his performance unforgettable.

Personal Life and Death

Barney Martin once remarked that to Jewish fans of the sitcom, Morty Seinfeld often reminded them of their fathers. He passed away at the age of 82 on March 21, 2005, from lung cancer in Studio City, California.