When the Laughter Stops

Stage, movie, and TV actor Barney Martin died of cancer on March 21 in his Los Angeles home. He was 82.

Queens, New York-born Martin did not start his career in show business. He joined the Air Force and served as a navigator during World War II. Upon returning, Martin became a New York City police detective, a job that he held for 20 years. He had a knack for adding humor to his speeches and making the deputy commissioners laugh, so he decided to take up comedy show writing on the side. He wrote for 1950s shows like 'Name That Tune' and 'The Steve Allen Show.'

Martin's first film role was in Mel Brooks' 'The Producers' in 1968. He then made a jump to Broadway, playing parts in several musicals including 'South Pacific' and 'The Fantasticks.' In 1975, he played Roxie Hart's 'Mr. Cellophane' husband, Amos, in Bob Fosse's original production of 'Chicago.'

Before his famous father role on 'Seinfeld,' Martin played a father to Liza Minnelli's character in 'Arthur' in 1981.

During the 1990s, Martin appeared on several television shows. He played Marty Seinfeld, Jerry's father who was retired and living in Florida. Martin was the third actor to be in that role, which he played until the show's cancellation in 1998.

One of his notable episodes was about the 'Executive,' his trench coat creation without a belt that Krammer wanted to sell. Martin wore the trench coat to the final cast party and has everyone sign it. He said that being on Seinfeld "was like having whipped cream on top of a mountain of ice cream."

Martin is survived by his wife, his son, and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. His daughter died of cancer in 2002.