Kiel Martin
Encyclopedia
Kiel Urban Mueller professionally known as Kiel Martin, was an American
actor best known for his role as lovable rogue Detective John "J.D." La Rue on the 1980s television drama Hill Street Blues
.
Martin was married twice, first to Claudia Martin (1944–2001), who was actor/crooner Dean Martin
's daughter by his first wife, Betty MacDonald. They had one child, a daughter named Jesse. The marriage ended in divorce
in 1971. His second marriage, to Joanne La Pomaroa, also ended in divorce. Like his character on Hill Street Blues, Martin battled alcoholism
and like his character, was able to manage it.
Martin starred with James Mitchum
in Moonrunners
, the movie upon which the television series The Dukes of Hazzard
was subsequently based, although neither Martin nor Mitchum reprised their leading roles for the small-screen version. In addition to Hill Street Blues, Martin also made guest appearances on various television shows between the late 1960s through the 1980s, including The Love Boat
, The Virginian
, The Edge of Night
, Father Dowling Mysteries
and Murder She Wrote. He starred in the short-lived 1987 Fox sitcom Second Chance
. He died in Rancho Mirage, California
of lung cancer
.
He was in contention for the lead role in the Oscar winning film Midnight Cowboy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor best known for his role as lovable rogue Detective John "J.D." La Rue on the 1980s television drama Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues
Hill Street Blues is an American serial police drama that was first aired on NBC in 1981 and ran for 146 episodes on primetime into 1987. Chronicling the lives of the staff of a single police precinct in an unnamed American city, the show received critical acclaim and its production innovations ...
.
Martin was married twice, first to Claudia Martin (1944–2001), who was actor/crooner Dean Martin
Dean Martin
Dean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
's daughter by his first wife, Betty MacDonald. They had one child, a daughter named Jesse. The marriage ended in divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
in 1971. His second marriage, to Joanne La Pomaroa, also ended in divorce. Like his character on Hill Street Blues, Martin battled alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and like his character, was able to manage it.
Martin starred with James Mitchum
James Mitchum
James Mitchum is the oldest son of actor Robert Mitchum and bears a striking resemblance to his famous father. He inherited his father's sleepy eyes and taciturn good looks. The comparison both helped and hurt his career. He had a child with actress Wende Wagner to whom he was formerly married. Ms...
in Moonrunners
Moonrunners
Moonrunners is a 1975 film starring James Mitchum, and the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Mitchum had co-starred with his famous father, Robert Mitchum, in the similar drive-in favorite Thunder Road eighteen years earlier, which also focused upon moonshine-running bootleggers...
, the movie upon which the television series The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
was subsequently based, although neither Martin nor Mitchum reprised their leading roles for the small-screen version. In addition to Hill Street Blues, Martin also made guest appearances on various television shows between the late 1960s through the 1980s, including The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, The Virginian
The Virginian (TV series)
The Virginian is an American Western television series starring James Drury and Doug McClure, which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes. Filmed in color, The Virginian became television's first 90-minute western series...
, The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night
The Edge of Night is an American television mystery series/soap opera produced by Procter & Gamble. It debuted on CBS on April 2, 1956, and ran as a live broadcast on that network until November 28, 1975; the series then moved to ABC, where it aired from December 1, 1975, until December 28, 1984...
, Father Dowling Mysteries
Father Dowling Mysteries
Father Dowling Mysteries is an American television mystery series that appeared between November 30, 1987 and May 2, 1991. For its first season, the show was on NBC; it moved to ABC network for its last two seasons...
and Murder She Wrote. He starred in the short-lived 1987 Fox sitcom Second Chance
Second Chance (TV series)
Second Chance was a short-lived American television sitcom, which aired on Fox from September 26 to November 28, 1987. The series was then revamped under the new title Boys Will Be Boys, and ran in the new format from January to May 14, 1988. It was created by David W...
. He died in Rancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage, California
Rancho Mirage is a resort city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 17,218 at the 2010 census, up from 13,249 at the 2000 census, but the seasonal population can exceed 20,000. In between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, it is one of the eight cities of the Coachella...
of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.
He was in contention for the lead role in the Oscar winning film Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
.
Selected filmography
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned Pen (1990)
- Lluvia de otoño (1988)
- If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (1987)
- Convicted: A Mother's Story (1987)
- Child Bride of Short Creek (1981)
- MoonrunnersMoonrunnersMoonrunners is a 1975 film starring James Mitchum, and the precursor to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Mitchum had co-starred with his famous father, Robert Mitchum, in the similar drive-in favorite Thunder Road eighteen years earlier, which also focused upon moonshine-running bootleggers...
(1975) - The Log of the Black Pearl (1975)
- Lolly-Madonna XXX (1973)
- Trick BabyTrick BabyTrick Baby is a 1972 American crime-drama film starring Kiel Martin and Mel Stewart. The film is commonly associated with the blaxploitation genre of the period but is more plot and character driven than other blaxploitation films...
(1972) - "Kung Fu": Season 1, episode 13: "The Stone" (1973)
- The Catcher (1972)
- The Panic in Needle ParkThe Panic in Needle ParkThe Panic in Needle Park is a 1971 American film directed by Jerry Schatzberg and starring Al Pacino in his second film appearance. The screenplay was written by Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne, adapted from the book by James Mills....
(1971) - The Undefeated (1969)
- "Dragnet": Season 2, episode 22: "The Litte Victim" (1968)