Severn Darden
Known for: 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.
Filmography
Series
Cheers
Professor DeWitt
1982
Series
The Six Million Dollar Man
Apploy
1974
Series
Barney Miller
Randolph Cook
1975
Series
Daniel Boone
Sir Hubert Spencer
1964
Series
I Dream of Jeannie
Milton
1965
Series
Starsky & Hutch
Mr. Wheeler
1975
Series
The Fall Guy
1981
Series
Laverne & Shirley
1976
Series
The Bionic Woman
1976
Series
Baretta
1975
Series
The Name of the Game
Cameron
1968
Series
The Monkees
Guggins
1966
Series
The Monkees
Mental Problem Specialist (uncredited)
1966
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Franklin
1955
Series
Faerie Tale Theatre
Farmer Silas
1982
Series
Honey West
Dr. Gregory Ames
1965
Series
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Series
Harry O
1974
Series
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Dr. Aaron Pollack
1974
Film
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Kolp
1973
Film
Vanishing Point
J. Hovah
1971
Film
Back to School
Dr. Barazini
1986
Film
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Kolp
1972
Series
Flying High
1978
Film
Real Genius
Dr. Meredith
1985
Series
The Practice
1976
Series
Barbary Coast
1975
Film
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Cecil
1969
Series
City of Angels
Winnie
1976
Series
Occasional Wife
1966
Series
Beyond Westworld
Foley
1980
Film
Hopscotch
Maddox
1980
Series
Lincoln
Gideon Welles
1974
Getting Together
1971
Film
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
Dr. Fahrquardt
1970
Barefoot in the Park
1970
The Man and the City
1971
Film
Luv
Vandergist
1967
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
S.I. Gilbert, Aimee's lawyer
1951
Film
The Last Movie
Mayor
1971
Film
P.J.
Shelton Quell
1968
Film
Saturday the 14th
Van Helsing
1981
Take Five
1987
Film
The Hired Hand
McVey
1971
Film
Wanda Nevada
Merlin Bitterstix
1979
Film
The Day of the Dolphin
Schwinn
1973
Film
Victory at Entebbe
Moshe Meyer
1976
Film
Cisco Pike
Lawyer
1972
Film
Jackson County Jail
Sheriff Dempsey
1976
Film
The President's Analyst
Kropotkin
1967
Film
Mother, Jugs & Speed
Moran
1976
Film
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart
1975
Film
Justine
Bathazar
1969
Film
Model Shop
Camera Shop Owner
1969
Film
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
Miles Fisher
1966
Film
In God We Tru$t
Priest
1980
Film
The War Between Men and Women
Dr. Harris
1972
Film
The Movie Murderer
Jimmy Apache
1970
Film
A Small Circle of Friends
Art Professor
1980
Film
The Telephone
1988
Film
The Mad Room
Nate
1969
Film
Half Nelson
Morgue Attendant
1985
Film
Evita Peron
Alfredo Suero
1981
Film
The Disappearance of Aimee
S.I. Gilbert
1976
Film
Rooster
Conway
1982
Film
Dirty Little Billy
Big Jim McDaniel
1972
Film
Werewolves on Wheels
One
1971
Film
The Legend of Hillbilly John
Mr. Marduke
1974
Film
Never Con a Killer
Cap
1977
Film
Love for Rent
Fred Hallem
1979
Film
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Farmer Silas
1986
Film
Play It as It Lays
Hypnotist
1972
A Cry for Love
Paul
1980
Film
Skyway to Death
Steve Kramer
1974
Film
Why Would I Lie?
Dr. Barbour
1980
Film
Quarterback Princess
Mr. Hobart
1983
Series
Beauty and the Beast
Waterman
1987
Series
Beauty and the Beast
Mr. Smythe
1987
Outside Chance
Sheriff Dempsey
1978
Film
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Jonathan Barnavelt
1979
Film
Orphan Train
Mr. Barrington
1979
Rendezvous Hotel
Albert Church
1979
Film
Fearless Frank
The Good Doctor / Claude
1969
Film
Goldstein
Doctor
1965
Film
The Virgin President
U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
1968
Film
Playmates
Roger, Man in Gallery
1972
Film
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
1970
Film
The Man Who Died Twice
Harry
1973
Film
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
H.S. Stevens
1965
Film
To See or Not to See
1969
Film
Point of View
1966