Severn Darden
Born November 09, 1929 (Age: 96)
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.
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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Filmography
The Telephone
1988
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as
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Age: 58
Back to School
1986
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as Dr. Barazini
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Age: 56
Real Genius
1985
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as Dr. Meredith
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Age: 55
Half Nelson
1985
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as Morgue Attendant
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Age: 55
Saturday the 14th
1981
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as Van Helsing
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Age: 51
Evita Peron
1981
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as Alfredo Suero
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Age: 51
No Image
A Cry for Love
1980
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as Paul
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Age: 50
In God We Tru$t
1980
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as Priest
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Age: 50
Hopscotch
1980
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as Maddox
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Age: 50
No Image
Why Would I Lie?
1980
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as Dr. Barbour
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Age: 50
A Small Circle of Friends
1980
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as Art Professor
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Age: 50
Wanda Nevada
1979
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as Merlin Bitterstix
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Age: 49
No Image
Outside Chance
1978
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as Sheriff Dempsey
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Age: 49
Never Con a Killer
1977
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as Cap
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Age: 47
Mother, Jugs & Speed
1976
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as Moran
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Age: 46
Jackson County Jail
1976
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as Sheriff Dempsey
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Age: 46
The Legend of Hillbilly John
1974
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as Mr. Marduke
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Age: 44
Skyway to Death
1974
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as Steve Kramer
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Age: 44
The Day of the Dolphin
1973
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as Schwinn
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Age: 44
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
1973
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as Kolp
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Age: 43
The Man Who Died Twice
1973
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as Harry
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Age: 43
Dirty Little Billy
1972
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as Big Jim McDaniel
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Age: 42
Play It as It Lays
1972
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as Hypnotist
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Age: 42
Playmates
1972
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as Roger, Man in Gallery
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Age: 42
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
1972
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as Kolp
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Age: 42
The War Between Men and Women
1972
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as Dr. Harris
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Age: 42
Vanishing Point
1971
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as J. Hovah
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Age: 41
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
1970
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as
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Age: 40
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1969
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as Cecil
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Age: 40
Fearless Frank
1969
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as The Good Doctor / Claude
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Age: 40
To See or Not to See
1969
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as
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Age: 39
Justine
1969
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as Bathazar
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Age: 39
The Mad Room
1969
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as Nate
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Age: 39
Model Shop
1969
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as Camera Shop Owner
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Age: 39
The Virgin President
1968
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as U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
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Age: 39
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
1965
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as H.S. Stevens
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Age: 36
Goldstein
1965
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as Doctor
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Age: 35