1929-11-09
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.
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The Telephone | 1988-01-22 | |
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The Princess Who Had Never Laughed | Farmer Silas | 1986-08-11 |
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Back to School | Dr. Barazini | 1986-06-13 |
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Half Nelson | Morgue Attendant | 1985-03-24 |
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Real Genius | Dr. Meredith | 1985-08-07 |
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Quarterback Princess | Mr. Hobart | 1983-12-03 |
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Rooster | Conway | 1982-08-19 |
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Evita Peron | Alfredo Suero | 1981-02-23 |
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Saturday the 14th | Van Helsing | 1981-10-30 |
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In God We Tru$t | Priest | 1980-09-26 |
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A Small Circle of Friends | Art Professor | 1980-03-12 |
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Hopscotch | Maddox | 1980-09-26 |
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Why Would I Lie? | Dr. Barbour | 1980-08-10 |
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A Cry for Love | Paul | 1980-10-20 |
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Rendezvous Hotel | Albert Church | 1979-07-11 |
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Love for Rent | Fred Hallem | 1979-11-11 |
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Once Upon a Midnight Scary | Jonathan Barnavelt | 1979-10-21 |
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Orphan Train | Mr. Barrington | 1979-12-22 |
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Wanda Nevada | Merlin Bitterstix | 1979-06-01 |
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Outside Chance | Sheriff Dempsey | 1978-12-02 |
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Never Con a Killer | Cap | 1977-05-13 |
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Jackson County Jail | Sheriff Dempsey | 1976-03-31 |
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Mother, Jugs & Speed | Moran | 1976-05-26 |
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The Disappearance of Aimee | S.I. Gilbert | 1976-11-17 |
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Victory at Entebbe | Moshe Meyer | 1976-12-22 |
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I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now? | Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart | 1975-12-01 |
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Skyway to Death | Steve Kramer | 1974-01-19 |
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The Legend of Hillbilly John | Mr. Marduke | 1974-02-01 |
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The Day of the Dolphin | Schwinn | 1973-12-19 |
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The Man Who Died Twice | Harry | 1973-04-13 |
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Battle for the Planet of the Apes | Kolp | 1973-06-15 |
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Play It as It Lays | Hypnotist | 1972-10-19 |
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Playmates | Roger, Man in Gallery | 1972-10-03 |
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The War Between Men and Women | Dr. Harris | 1972-06-01 |
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Dirty Little Billy | Big Jim McDaniel | 1972-11-01 |
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Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | Kolp | 1972-06-29 |
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Vanishing Point | J. Hovah | 1971-01-15 |
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Cisco Pike | Lawyer | 1971-11-02 |
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Werewolves on Wheels | One | 1971-08-11 |
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The Last Movie | Mayor | 1971-09-29 |
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The Hired Hand | McVey | 1971-08-11 |
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Bongo Wolf’s Revenge | 1970-01-01 | |
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The Movie Murderer | Jimmy Apache | 1970-02-02 |
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Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You | Dr. Fahrquardt | 1970-03-25 |
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Justine | Bathazar | 1969-08-06 |
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Model Shop | Camera Shop Owner | 1969-02-11 |
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The Mad Room | Nate | 1969-05-01 |
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They Shoot Horses, Don't They? | Cecil | 1969-12-10 |
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Fearless Frank | The Good Doctor / Claude | 1969-12-10 |
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To See or Not to See | 1969-10-10 | |
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The Virgin President | U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore | 1968-11-18 |
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P.J. | Shelton Quell | 1968-03-27 |
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The President's Analyst | Kropotkin | 1967-12-21 |
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Luv | Vandergist | 1967-07-26 |
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Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round | Miles Fisher | 1966-10-12 |
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Goldstein | Doctor | 1965-05-07 |
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The Double-Barrelled Detective Story | H.S. Stevens | 1965-12-31 |