
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.

Pussycat, Pussycat, I Love You
1970 · as Dr. Fahrquardt

Vanishing Point
1971 · as J. Hovah

Battle for the Planet of the Apes
1973 · as Kolp

Back to School
1986 · as Dr. Barazini

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
1972 · as Kolp

Real Genius
1985 · as Dr. Meredith

They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
1969 · as Cecil

The Last Movie
1971 · as Mayor

Luv
1967 · as Vandergist

P.J.
1968 · as Shelton Quell

Saturday the 14th
1981 · as Van Helsing

The Hired Hand
1971 · as McVey

Victory at Entebbe
1976 · as Moshe Meyer

Wanda Nevada
1979 · as Merlin Bitterstix

Model Shop
1969 · as Camera Shop Owner

The Mad Room
1969 · as Nate

Love for Rent
1979 · as Fred Hallem

The Movie Murderer
1970 · as Jimmy Apache