Severn Darden
Acting • Born 1929-11-09 – Died 1995-05-27
Biography
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
90 credits
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 1972
Kolp
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 1973
Kolp
Saturday the 14th
Movie • 1981
Van Helsing
Jackson County Jail
Movie • 1976
Sheriff Dempsey
Victory at Entebbe
Movie • 1976
Moshe Meyer
Justine
Movie • 1969
Bathazar
The President's Analyst
Movie • 1967
Kropotkin
Vanishing Point
Movie • 1971
J. Hovah
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Movie • 1969
Cecil
Why Would I Lie?
Movie • 1980
Dr. Barbour
The Day of the Dolphin
Movie • 1973
Schwinn
Wanda Nevada
Movie • 1979
Merlin Bitterstix
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
Movie • 1966
Miles Fisher
Playmates
Movie • 1972
Roger, Man in Gallery
Cisco Pike
Movie • 1971
Lawyer
The Man Who Died Twice
Movie • 1973
Harry
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Movie • 1975
Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
Movie • 1970
Dr. Fahrquardt
Quarterback Princess
Movie • 1983
Mr. Hobart
Rendezvous Hotel
Movie • 1979
Albert Church
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
Movie • 1965
H.S. Stevens
The Legend of Hillbilly John
Movie • 1974
Mr. Marduke
Back to School
Movie • 1986
Dr. Barazini
The Disappearance of Aimee
Movie • 1976
S.I. Gilbert
A Small Circle of Friends
Movie • 1980
Art Professor
Evita Peron
Movie • 1981
Alfredo Suero
Dirty Little Billy
Movie • 1972
Big Jim McDaniel
Never Con a Killer
Movie • 1977
Cap
Real Genius
Movie • 1985
Dr. Meredith
P.J.
Movie • 1968
Shelton Quell
The Movie Murderer
Movie • 1970
Jimmy Apache
Outside Chance
Movie • 1978
Sheriff Dempsey
A Cry for Love
Movie • 1980
Paul
The Mad Room
Movie • 1969
Nate
Half Nelson
Movie • 1985
Morgue Attendant
Luv
Movie • 1967
Vandergist
Mother, Jugs & Speed
Movie • 1976
Moran
Orphan Train
Movie • 1979
Mr. Barrington
The Telephone
Movie • 1988
The War Between Men and Women
Movie • 1972
Dr. Harris
Skyway to Death
Movie • 1974
Steve Kramer
Hopscotch
Movie • 1980
Maddox
Goldstein
Movie • 1965
Doctor
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Movie • 1979
Jonathan Barnavelt
Fearless Frank
Movie • 1969
The Good Doctor / Claude
To See or Not to See
Movie • 1969
Play It as It Lays
Movie • 1972
Hypnotist
The Hired Hand
Movie • 1971
McVey
In God We Tru$t
Movie • 1980
Priest
The Last Movie
Movie • 1971
Mayor
Model Shop
Movie • 1969
Camera Shop Owner
The Virgin President
Movie • 1968
U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
Love for Rent
Movie • 1979
Fred Hallem
Werewolves on Wheels
Movie • 1971
One
Rooster
Movie • 1982
Conway
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
Movie • 1970
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Movie • 1986
Farmer Silas
Point of View
Movie • 1966
Starsky & Hutch
TV • 1975
Mr. Wheeler
The Bionic Woman
TV • 1976
Beauty and the Beast
TV • 1987
Baretta
TV • 1975
Barney Miller
TV • 1975
Randolph Cook
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Laverne & Shirley
TV • 1976
Barefoot in the Park
TV • 1970
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
S.I. Gilbert, Aimee's lawyer
The Fall Guy
TV • 1981
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV • 1974
Dr. Aaron Pollack
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Franklin
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Guggins
Harry O
TV • 1974
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Sir Hubert Spencer
City of Angels
TV • 1976
Winnie
Getting Together
TV • 1971
The Man and the City
TV • 1971
Occasional Wife
TV • 1966
Barbary Coast
TV • 1975
Honey West
TV • 1965
Dr. Gregory Ames
Flying High
TV • 1978
Take Five
TV • 1987
The Practice
TV • 1976
Faerie Tale Theatre
TV • 1982
Farmer Silas
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Apploy
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Cameron
Beyond Westworld
TV • 1980
Foley
Cheers
TV • 1982
Professor DeWitt
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
Milton
Lincoln
TV • 1974
Gideon Welles
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Mental Problem Specialist (uncredited)