- published: 13 Jan 2015
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Barney Martin (March 3, 1923 – March 21, 2005) was an American actor. He is best known for playing Morty Seinfeld, father of Jerry, on the famous sitcom Seinfeld.
Born in Queens, New York, Martin served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II and then was an NYPD officer for twenty years. He got his start as a comedian while still a police officer, giving humorous presentations to the deputy commissioners.
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. That year, he also played the role of Hank in "Charly". He went on to act in dozens of films, including the role of Liza Minnelli's unemployed father in Arthur (1981). On television, he appeared in several episodes of The Odd Couple, as well as an episode of Full House as Ranger Roy. In 1979 he was cast as the title character in Norman Lear's final TV series concept, McGurk: A Dog's Life. Martin was cast to play a character similar to Lear's earlier creation, Archie Bunker, but played as a dog. Only the pilot was completed. In 1990, he co-starred with Valerie Bertinelli and Matthew Perry in the CBS sitcom Sydney.