Stage, screen, and television actor Kenneth Mars died of pancreatic cancer on 12 February 2011. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on 14 April 1936, he may be best remembered for his roles in two Mel Brooks films.
His television debut came in The Jetsons in 1962, and throughout his stage, screen, and live-action careers, he was a voice performer as well. In 1968, Brooks tapped him as the German would-be playwright Franz Liebkind, and then brought him back in 1974 as Inspector Kemp, with the wooden arm, in Young Frankenstein. His last appearance came in The Land Before Time (2008).
His other genre roles include: The Angry Beavers (2000), The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea (2000), two episodes of The Pretender (1999 and 2000), Godzilla: The Series (1998), two episodes of Weird Science (1996 and 1997), Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1996), The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest (1996), several episodes of Batman (1994-95), Rough Magic (1995), Thumbelina (1994), M.A.N.T.I.S. (1994), Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994), We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story (1993), nine episodes of The Pirates of Dark Water (1991-93), Rugrats (1993), all 13 episodes of Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone (1990), The Little Mermaid (1989), The Twilight Zone (1986), Misfits of Science (1985), The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo (1985), Challenge of the GoBots (1984), Small & Frye (1983), Tucker’s Witch (1982), Full Moon High (1981), Heaven Only Knows (1979), Project U.F.O. (1978), Tabitha (1978), The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (1975), Superman (1975), and Steambath (1973).
He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara Newborn, their two children, and six grandchildren.