Actor Kenneth Mars Dies

Kenneth Mars, an actor known for a laundry list of fabulously memorable roles and a Granada Hills resident, had died of pancreatic cancer. He was 75.

Mars may be best known for his portrayal of a hippie-hating Hitler defender in Mel Brooks' film The Producers, and for the role of the Transylvanian police inspector in Young Frankenstein.

Mars' daughter Becky was my classmate at Granada Elementary School, and I recall at one Open House night, my father excitedly nudging me and whispering, "Look, Linda, it's Kenneth Mars!!!" I was in second grade at the time and failed to comprehend the significance of the event; it wasn't until a few years later when Young Frankenstein became one of my favorite films ("what knockers!") that I appreciated Mars' gifts.

Comments

  1. Molly MorriseyFebruary 19, 2011 at 12:59 PM

    When I was a little girl in North Hollywood, my family lived right next door to Kenneth and Barbara Mars. My mother and Barbara were best friends and actually had a little craft shop called Rubarb (Ruth and Barbara) on Top which was located on Chatsworth and Yarmouth. Although I knew Barbara better than Ken, I remember him as a happy sort of person who always had a kind word for me. I send my condolences to Barbara, Susannah, and Rebecca.

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