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