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.
Acted in 82
1980s
- 1988
The Telephone
Movie
- 1987
Beauty and the Beast
Waterman, Mr. Smythe · 1 episode
- 1986
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Farmer Silas
- 1985
Half Nelson
Morgue Attendant
- 1983
Quarterback Princess
Mr. Hobart
- 1982
Rooster
Conway
- 1981
Evita Peron
Alfredo Suero
- 1980
In God We Tru$t
Priest
Why Would I Lie?
Dr. Barbour
A Small Circle of Friends
Art Professor
Beyond Westworld
Foley · 5 episodes
1970s
- 1979
Orphan Train
Mr. Barrington
Love for Rent
Fred Hallem
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Jonathan Barnavelt
- 1978
- 1977
Never Con a Killer
Cap
- 1976
Victory at Entebbe
Moshe Meyer
The Disappearance of Aimee
S.I. Gilbert
The Practice
TV
- 1975
Barbary Coast
TV
- 1974
Lincoln
Gideon Welles · 1 episode
The Legend of Hillbilly John
Mr. Marduke
Skyway to Death
Steve Kramer
- 1973
The Day of the Dolphin
Schwinn
The Man Who Died Twice
Harry
- 1972
Dirty Little Billy
Big Jim McDaniel
Play It as It Lays
Hypnotist
Playmates
Roger, Man in Gallery
The War Between Men and Women
Dr. Harris
Cisco Pike
Lawyer
- 1971
The Last Movie
Mayor
The Hired Hand
McVey
- 1970
The Movie Murderer
Jimmy Apache
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
Movie
1960s
- 1969
Fearless Frank
The Good Doctor / Claude
To See or Not to See
Movie
Justine
Bathazar
The Mad Room
Nate
Model Shop
Camera Shop Owner
- 1968
The Virgin President
U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
P.J.
Shelton Quell
- 1967
The President's Analyst
Kropotkin
- 1966
Point of View
Movie
Occasional Wife
TV
- 1965
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
H.S. Stevens
Goldstein
Doctor
- 1964
1950s
- 1955
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
S.I. Gilbert, Aimee's lawyer · 1 episode
Wrote 2
1960s
- 1969
The Mama Cass Television Program
Writer
- 1968
The Virgin President
Writer
Sound 1
1970s
- 1971
The Last Movie
Original Music Composer
Produced 1
1960s
- 1968
The Virgin President
Producer