Severn Darden
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting89
tvBeauty and the Beast
1987
Waterman / Mr. Smythe
movieThe Princess Who Had Never Laughed
1986
Farmer Silas
movieBack to School
1986
Dr. Barazini
movieReal Genius
1985
Dr. Meredith
movieHalf Nelson
1985
Morgue Attendant
movieQuarterback Princess
1983
Mr. Hobart
tvCheers
1982
Professor DeWitt
tvFaerie Tale Theatre
1982
Farmer Silas
movieRooster
1982
Conway
movieSaturday the 14th
1981
Van Helsing
movieEvita Peron
1981
Alfredo Suero
movieHopscotch
1980
Maddox
movieIn God We Tru$t
1980
Priest
movieWhy Would I Lie?
1980
Dr. Barbour
movieA Small Circle of Friends
1980
Art Professor
movieOrphan Train
1979
Mr. Barrington
movieLove for Rent
1979
Fred Hallem
movieOnce Upon a Midnight Scary
1979
Jonathan Barnavelt
Rendezvous Hotel
1979
Albert Church
movieWanda Nevada
1979
Merlin Bitterstix
Outside Chance
1978
Sheriff Dempsey
movieVictory at Entebbe
1976
Moshe Meyer
movieThe Disappearance of Aimee
1976
S.I. Gilbert
movieJackson County Jail
1976
Sheriff Dempsey
tvCity of Angels
1976
Winnie
movieI Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
1975
Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart
tvStarsky & Hutch
1975
Mr. Wheeler
tvBarney Miller
1975
Randolph Cook
tvKolchak: The Night Stalker
1974
Dr. Aaron Pollack
tvLincoln
1974
Gideon Welles
movieThe Legend of Hillbilly John
1974
Mr. Marduke
movieSkyway to Death
1974
Steve Kramer
movieDirty Little Billy
1972
Big Jim McDaniel
moviePlay It as It Lays
1972
Hypnotist
moviePlaymates
1972
Roger, Man in Gallery
movieThe War Between Men and Women
1972
Dr. Harris
movieCisco Pike
1972
Lawyer
movieVanishing Point
1971
J. Hovah
moviePussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
1970
Dr. Fahrquardt
movieThe Movie Murderer
1970
Jimmy Apache
movieFearless Frank
1969
The Good Doctor / Claude
movieJustine
1969
Bathazar
movieModel Shop
1969
Camera Shop Owner
movieThe Virgin President
1968
U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
tvThe Name of the Game
1968
Cameron
movieP.J.
1968
Shelton Quell
movieThe President's Analyst
1967
Kropotkin
movieLuv
1967
Vandergist
movieDead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
1966
Miles Fisher
tvThe Monkees
1966
Guggins / Mental Problem Specialist (uncredited)
movieThe Double-Barrelled Detective Story
1965
H.S. Stevens
tvI Dream of Jeannie
1965
Milton
tvHoney West
1965
Dr. Gregory Ames
movieGoldstein
1965
Doctor
tvDaniel Boone
1964
Sir Hubert Spencer
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Franklin
tvHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
S.I. Gilbert, Aimee's lawyer
Writing2
Production1
movieThe Virgin President
1968
Producer
Sound1
movieThe Last Movie
1971
Original Music Composer