Jan 17, 2023
Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast we are talking to Susannah Mars, daughter of the amazing actor/comedian Kenneth Mars. We spoke to Susannah about growing up with the man who portrayed the outrageous Nazi playwright Franz Liebkind in The Producers as well as Inspector Kemp in Young Frankenstein. Of course that means we talk about Mel Brooks but it also means we talk about everything from Chicago radio/TV personality Sonny Mars who was Kenneth’s step father, additional Mars films like The Parallax View & What’s Up, Doc? & hanging out with dad’s friends Dick Gautier (Hymie from Get Smart) and Dave Madden of The Partridge Family. Susannah also talks to us about her own career as a performer, actress and her upcoming documentary “Mourning Has Broken”, her father’s amazing accents which may or may not be used In LA restaurants, his penchant for elaborate gags at lunch as well as his stage career which frankly we knew too little about.
It was wonderful talking to Susannah because not only did she have some great tales about being on the set of Young Frankenstein and being in the seats at The Muny in St; Louis, but she regales us with stories about appearing in an ABC After School Special with Kristy McNichol, her small role in the Jodie Foster version of Freaky Friday and her obvious bond she and her dad shared. She really brings his wild but loving personality to life in our interview. So if the cult TV show Fernwood 2 Night, meeting Lucille Ball on the Universal lot or The Playboy Club circuit mean anything to you, you should take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Take a listen.