Severn Darden
Acting
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.
The Telephone
The Princess Who Had Never Laughed
Farmer Silas
Back to School
Dr. Barazini
Real Genius
Dr. Meredith
Half Nelson
Morgue Attendant
Quarterback Princess
Mr. Hobart
Rooster
Conway
Saturday the 14th
Van Helsing
Evita Peron
Alfredo Suero
A Cry for Love
Paul
In God We Tru$t
Priest
Hopscotch
Maddox
Why Would I Lie?
Dr. Barbour
A Small Circle of Friends
Art Professor
Orphan Train
Mr. Barrington
Love for Rent
Fred Hallem
Once Upon a Midnight Scary
Jonathan Barnavelt
Rendezvous Hotel
Albert Church
Wanda Nevada
Merlin Bitterstix
Outside Chance
Sheriff Dempsey
Never Con a Killer
Cap
Victory at Entebbe
Moshe Meyer
The Disappearance of Aimee
S.I. Gilbert
Mother, Jugs & Speed
Moran
Jackson County Jail
Sheriff Dempsey
I Wonder Who's Killing Her Now?
Mr. Fletch / Dr. DeHart
The Legend of Hillbilly John
Mr. Marduke
Skyway to Death
Steve Kramer
The Day of the Dolphin
Schwinn
Battle for the Planet of the Apes
Kolp
The Man Who Died Twice
Harry
Dirty Little Billy
Big Jim McDaniel
Play It as It Lays
Hypnotist
Playmates
Roger, Man in Gallery
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Kolp
The War Between Men and Women
Dr. Harris
Cisco Pike
Lawyer
The Last Movie
Mayor
Werewolves on Wheels
One
The Hired Hand
McVey
Vanishing Point
J. Hovah
Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
Dr. Fahrquardt
The Movie Murderer
Jimmy Apache
Bongo Wolf’s Revenge
Fearless Frank
The Good Doctor / Claude
They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
Cecil
To See or Not to See
Justine
Bathazar
The Mad Room
Nate
Model Shop
Camera Shop Owner
The Virgin President
U.S. President / Fillmard Millmore
P.J.
Shelton Quell
The President's Analyst
Kropotkin
Luv
Vandergist
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round
Miles Fisher
Point of View
The Double-Barrelled Detective Story
H.S. Stevens
Goldstein
Doctor