Mark Blum of 'You' and 'Crocodile Dundee' fame passes away at 69 from coronavirus complications
Veteran actor Mark Blum, best known for starring in films like ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ and ‘Crocodile Dundee’ died due to complications from the coronavirus. Blum was 69.
The news was first announced by the New York theater company Playwrights Horizons and SAG-AFTRA executive vice president Rebecca Damon. He wrote on Twitter, “It is with such deep sorrow that I’m writing to share the news that our friend and former board member Mark Blum has passed away as a result of complications from the coronavirus. Mark was a dedicated Screen Actors Guild and SAG-AFTRA board member serving from 2007-2013.”
Following that, the Playwrights Horizons tweeted: “With love and heavy hearts, Playwrights Horizons pays tribute to Mark Blum, a dear longtime friend, and a consummate artist who passed this week. Thank you, Mark, for all you brought to our theater, and to theaters and audiences across the world. We will miss you.”
Born on May 14, 1950, in Newark, New Jersey, Blum found fame for roles in ‘Miami Rhapsody’, ‘The Low Life’, ‘Denise Calls Up’, ‘Stag’, ‘Roseanne’, ‘New York Undercover’, ‘CPW’, ‘The West Wing’, ‘NYPD Blue’, and ‘Frasier’, among many others.
Blum was well-known in the New York theater community; he had won an Obie Award for his performance in the Playwrights Horizons production of a play from Albert Innaurato, ‘Gus and Al’. He also appeared on Broadway in ‘Lost in Yonkers’, ‘The Best Man’ and more.
Most recently, Blum was seen is roles like Union Bob on the Amazon series ‘Mozart in the Jungle’, and as Mr. Mooney, the bookstore owner who served a kind of father-figure to Joe (Penn Badgley), in Netflix’s psychological thriller series ‘YOU’.
His death was grieved by many. Playwright Jack Canfora wrote on Twitter, “He was one of the most respected actors in New York: a beacon of fierce intelligence, dry wit & deep kindness on stage and off. A tragic loss.”
The Washington Post theater critic Peter Marks wrote, “There are actors whose names appear in the announcement of a play, and you instantly think, without knowing any details: This will be work worth seeing. Mark Blum was of that wonderful caliber. Made me believe, every time I saw him. It's terrible to read of his death.”
Actor Judith Light tweeted, “Mark Blum, so generous, so kind, so humble, so talented. Our time together in the play The Assembled Parties at MTC was a true joy. May he rest in peace knowing that he transformed the lives of so many and was cherished by so many; me among them.”