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Severn Darden
Severn Teakle Darden Jr. (November 9, 1929 – May 27, 1995) was an American comedian and actor, and a founding member of The Second City Chicago-based comedy troupe as well as its…
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Severn Teakle Darden Jr. (November 9, 1929 – May 27, 1995) was an American comedian and actor, and a founding member of The Second City Chicago-based comedy troupe as well as its predecessor, the Compass Players. He is known from his film appearances for playing the human leader Kolp in the fourth and fifth Planet of the Apes films. His live comedy improv skit under the character of "Walther von der Vogelweide" was influential with two generations of comic performers. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, he attended the University of Chicago, where he was a "campus legend" according to poet Paul Carroll. Darden’s offbeat and intellectual sense of humor was a major element in the style of The Second City at that time, and is evident throughout his work. Carroll described him as a combination of surrealistic New Orleans and tough, caustic "Chicago Style" comedy. An example of his offbeat humor is the way he squeezed the phrase "Know thyself" into the seven-character limitation of a New Mexico license plate: NOYOSEF. Darden was a core comedian in Paul Sills' Compass Players, the first improvisation theater in the US; it performed around the Chicago area during the mid-1950s. Sills went on to found The Second City in 1959 and brought in many of the comedians from Compass Players, including Darden.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
-
1988
The Telephone
Movie
-
1987
Beauty and the Beast
TV show Waterman
-
1987
Take Five
TV show
-
1986
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Movie Farmer Silas
-
1986
Back to School
Movie Dr. Barazini
-
1985
Real Genius
Movie Dr. Meredith
-
1985
Half Nelson
Movie Morgue Attendant
-
1983
Quarterback Princess
Movie Mr. Hobart
-
1982
Cheers
TV show Professor DeWitt
-
1982
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV show Farmer Silas
-
1982
Rooster
Movie Conway
-
1981
The Fall Guy
TV show
-
1981
Saturday the 14th
Movie Van Helsing
-
1981
Evita Peron
Movie Alfredo Suero
-
1980
A Cry for Love
Movie Paul
-
1980
Hopscotch
Movie Maddox
More credits
-
1980
In God We Tru$t
Movie Priest
-
1980
Why Would I Lie?
Movie Dr. Barbour
-
1980
A Small Circle of Friends
Movie Art Professor
-
1980
Beyond Westworld
TV show Foley
-
1979
Orphan Train
Movie Mr. Barrington
-
1979
Love for Rent
Movie Fred Hallem
-
1979
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Movie Jonathan Barnavelt
-
1979
Rendezvous Hotel
Movie Albert Church
-
1979
Wanda Nevada
Movie Merlin Bitterstix
-
1978
Outside Chance
Movie Sheriff Dempsey
-
1978
Flying High
TV show
-
1977
Never Con a Killer
Movie Cap
-
1976
Victory at Entebbe
Movie Moshe Meyer
-
1976
The Disappearance of Aimee
Movie S.I. Gilbert
-
1976
Mother, Jugs & Speed
Movie Moran
-
1976
Jackson County Jail
Movie Sheriff Dempsey
-
1976
City of Angels
TV show Winnie
-
1976
The Practice
TV show
-
1976
Laverne & Shirley
TV show
-
1976
The Bionic Woman
TV show
-
1975
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Movie Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart
-
1975
Starsky & Hutch
TV show Mr. Wheeler
-
1975
Barbary Coast
TV show
-
1975
Barney Miller
TV show Randolph Cook
