Kiel Martin

Kiel Urban Mueller (July 26, 1944 – December 28, 1990), known professionally as Kiel Martin, was an American actor best known for his role as Detective John "J.D." La Rue on the 1980s television drama Hill Street Blues.[1]

Kiel Martin
Born
Kiel Urban Mueller

(1944-07-26)July 26, 1944
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedDecember 28, 1990(1990-12-28) (aged 46)
Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1956–1990
Spouses
Claudia Martin
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1971)​
    Christina Montoya
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1978; div. 1980)​
      Joanne La Pomaroa
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1982; div. 1984)​
      Children1 (with Martin)

      Early years

      Martin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Miami.[2] A 1962 graduate of Hialeah High School, he was a drama student at Miami-Dade Junior College and acted in productions at the University of Miami.

      When he was 18, he dubbed voices for "Mexican fairy-tale movies."[3]

      Career

      Martin's debut as a professional actor came in repertory theatre in Florida. In the 1960s, he moved to New York and worked as a musician, a dockworker, and a stand-up comedian. After signing a contract with Universal Studios in 1967, he broke 15 bones in a motorcycle accident, requiring 2 years recuperation.[2]

      Martin appeared in the film Moonrunners, which was the basis for the television series The Dukes of Hazzard.[4][5][6]

      In addition to Hill Street Blues, Martin made guest appearances on various television shows between the late 1960s and the 1980s, including Dragnet, The Love Boat, The Virginian, Father Dowling Mysteries, and Murder, She Wrote. He starred in the short-lived 1987 Fox sitcom Second Chance[7] until its revamping as Boys Will Be Boys resulted in his character being dropped. He also was a regular on the soap opera The Edge of Night.[2]

      Personal life

      He was married three times. In 1969, he married Claudia Martin (1944–2001), who was actor/crooner Dean Martin's daughter. They had a daughter named Jesse. The marriage ended in 1971.[8] He was married to Christina Montoya 1978-80. His final marriage was to Joanne La Pomaroa 1982-84.

      Death

      Martin died of lung cancer, aged 46, at his home in Rancho Mirage, California.[2][9]

      Filmography
      Film
      Year Title Role Notes
      1960La caperucita rojaThe Ferocious WolfEnglish version, Voice, Uncredited
      1961Caperucita y sus tres amigosEnglish version, Voice, Uncredited
      1962Caperucita y Pulgarcito contra los monstruosEnglish version, Voice, Uncredited
      1969The UndefeatedUnion Runner
      1971The Panic in Needle ParkChico
      1972Trick BabyWhite Folks
      1973Lolly-Madonna XXXLudie Gutshall
      1975MoonrunnersBobby Lee Hagg
      1982Human HighwayConstruction Worker
      1989Lluvia de otoño
      Television
      Year Title Role Notes
      1968DragnetWalter Marshall1 episode
      1968The VirginianTony Barnessaison 06/04
      1968The VirginianCal Orseysaison 06/21
      1969The VirginianRankinsaison 7 episode 22 (Incident at Diablo Crossing)
      1972GunsmokeIke Daggett1 episode
      1972The CatcherWes WatkinsTV movie
      1975The Log of the Black PearlChristopher SandTV movie
      1977-1978The Edge of NightRaney CooperTV series
      1981-1987Hill Street BluesJ.D. LaRueTV series
      1981Child Bride of Short CreekBob KalishTV movie
      1982Matt HoustonBill Claudius1 episode
      1987Convicted: A Mother's StoryVanTV movie
      1987If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be BelgiumZane DrinkwaterTV movie
      1987Second ChanceCharles Russell9 episodes
      1989Miami VicePaul Cutter1 episode
      1989The Ray Bradbury Theater: A Sound of ThunderEckersTV series
      1990Perry Mason: The Case of the Poisoned PenMax MulgrewTV movie
      1990Murder, She WroteDanny Snow1 episode, (final appearance)

      References
      1. Obituary Variety, January 7, 1991.
      2. "Actor Kiel Martin Dies at 46". The Washington Post. January 2, 1991. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
      3. Kelley, Bill (October 31, 1987). "'Second Chance' For Kiel Martin". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
      4. White, Bryan (June 26, 2008). "Just the good ol' boys. Never meanin' no harm. Moonrunners".
      5. Holland, Jon (2009). "Dukes Historian".
      6. LeVasseur, Andrea. "Moonrunners Review". StarPulse.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
      7. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 939. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
      8. Lisanti, Tom (2003). Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties. McFarland. p. 285. ISBN 9780786471652. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
      9. "Kiel Martin, 46, Actor Who Played Sleazy Cop on 'Hill Street Blues'". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. January 2, 1991. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
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