Birth Day: 1929-11-09
Place of birth: --
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.
Credits
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As Farmer Silas -
As Dr. Barazini -
As Dr. Meredith -
As Morgue Attendant -
As Mr. Hobart -
As Conway -
As Alfredo Suero -
As Van Helsing -
As Maddox -
As Art Professor -
As Paul
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As Priest -
As Dr. Barbour
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As Fred Hallem -
As Albert Church
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As Jonathan Barnavelt -
As Mr. Barrington -
As Merlin Bitterstix -
As Sheriff Dempsey
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As Cap -
As Moshe Meyer -
As Moran -
As Sheriff Dempsey -
As S.I. Gilbert -
As Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart -
As Mr. Marduke -
As Steve Kramer -
As Schwinn -
As Kolp -
As Harry -
As Dr. Harris -
As Hypnotist -
As Kolp -
As Big Jim McDaniel -
As Roger, Man in Gallery -
As One -
As Lawyer -
As J. Hovah -
As McVey -
As Mayor -
As Jimmy Apache -
As Dr. Fahrquardt -
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As Nate -
As Camera Shop Owner -
As Cecil -
As The Good Doctor / Claude -
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As Bathazar -
As Shelton Quell -
As U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore -
As Vandergist -
As Kropotkin -
As Miles Fisher -
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As Doctor -
As H.S. Stevens