Kenneth Mars
1936-2011
What a shocker, I didn’t know he was that old, or that he had cancer, but I guess that’s because he just seemed to keep so busy even into his last years. Yes Kenneth Mars possibly the funniest man to ever impersonate German people has passed on. Famous for his roles in such Mel Brooks classics as Young Frankenstein and The Producers, no one could play an over-the-top foreigner like Kenneth Mars and yet he was American, comedic genius.
Though the previously mentioned are possibly his most notable works, Mars had countless roles in notable films including; Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, What’s Up Doc?, Radio Days, The Little Mermaid and many TV roles, including; Gunsmoke, Get Smart, Freakazoid, Deep Space Nine and Batman the Animated Series to name a few.
Personally I’ll always remember him in my favorite performance of his as oblivious German Rancher/Francis’ boss Otto Mankuser on seasons 4 and 5 of Malcolm in the Middle. He was easily one of the funniest characters on the show and will be sorely missed.