Acting
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 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
The Telephone
Film · 1988
Take Five
Series · 1987
Beauty and the Beast
Series · 1987
Beauty and the Beast
Series · 1987
Back to School
Film · 1986
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Film · 1986
Real Genius
Film · 1985
Half Nelson
Film · 1985
Quarterback Princess
Film · 1983
Rooster
Film · 1982
Faerie Tale Theatre
Series · 1982
Cheers
Series · 1982
Saturday the 14th
Film · 1981
Evita Peron
Film · 1981
The Fall Guy
Series · 1981
Why Would I Lie?
Film · 1980
A Small Circle of Friends
Film · 1980
A Cry for Love
Film · 1980
Hopscotch
Film · 1980
In God We Tru$t
Film · 1980
Beyond Westworld
Series · 1980
Wanda Nevada
Film · 1979
Rendezvous Hotel
Film · 1979
Orphan Train
Film · 1979
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Film · 1979
Love for Rent
Film · 1979
Outside Chance
Film · 1978
Flying High
Series · 1978
Never Con a Killer
Film · 1977
Jackson County Jail
Film · 1976
Victory at Entebbe
Film · 1976
The Disappearance of Aimee
Film · 1976
Mother, Jugs & Speed
Film · 1976
The Bionic Woman
Series · 1976
Laverne & Shirley
Series · 1976
City of Angels
Series · 1976
The Practice
Series · 1976
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Film · 1975
Starsky & Hutch
Series · 1975
Baretta
Series · 1975
Barney Miller
Series · 1975
Barbary Coast
Series · 1975
The Legend of Hillbilly John
Film · 1974
Skyway to Death
Film · 1974
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Series · 1974
Harry O
Series · 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
Series · 1974
Lincoln
Series · 1974
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1973
The Day of the Dolphin
Film · 1973
The Man Who Died Twice
Film · 1973
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1972
Playmates
Film · 1972
Cisco Pike
Film · 1972
Dirty Little Billy
Film · 1972
The War Between Men and Women
Film · 1972
Play It as It Lays
Film · 1972
Vanishing Point
Film · 1971
The Hired Hand
Film · 1971
The Last Movie
Film · 1971
Werewolves on Wheels
Film · 1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Series · 1971
Getting Together
Series · 1971
The Man and the City
Series · 1971
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
Film · 1970
The Movie Murderer
Film · 1970
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
Film · 1970
Barefoot in the Park
Series · 1970
Justine
Film · 1969
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Film · 1969
The Mad Room
Film · 1969
Fearless Frank
Film · 1969
To See or Not to See
Film · 1969
Model Shop
Film · 1969
P.J.
Film · 1968
The Virgin President
Film · 1968
The Name of the Game
Series · 1968
The President's Analyst
Film · 1967
Luv
Film · 1967
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
Film · 1966
Point of View
Film · 1966
The Monkees
Series · 1966
Occasional Wife
Series · 1966
The Monkees
Series · 1966
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
Film · 1965
Goldstein
Film · 1965
Honey West
Series · 1965
I Dream of Jeannie
Series · 1965
Daniel Boone
Series · 1964
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951