Mark Blum
{{Short description|American actor (1950–2020)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mark Blum
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption = Blum in the 2007 theatrical production of The Cherry Orchard
| birth_name = Mark Blum
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1950|5|14}}
| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2020|3|25|1950|5|14}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| other_names =
| alma_mater = University of Pennsylvania
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1976–2020
| known_for = {{Unbulleted list|Desperately Seeking Susan | Crocodile Dundee|Mozart in the Jungle}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Janet Zarish|2005}}
}}
Mark Blum (May 14, 1950 – March 25, 2020) was an American actor who worked in theater, film, and television. He found success with a lead role in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan, which he followed up the next year with a supporting role in Crocodile Dundee.{{Cite news|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/mark-blum-57299276/|title=Mark Blum {{!}} Biography and Filmography {{!}} 1950|author=|date=February 2, 2015|publisher=Hollywood.com|access-date=May 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922031856/http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/mark-blum-57299276/|archive-date=September 22, 2015|url-status=live}} On the stage, Blum won an Obie Award for his role in the play Gus and Al during its 1988–1989 season.
Near the end of his career, Blum had a regularly recurring role on the Amazon Prime series Mozart in the Jungle from 2014 to 2018. He also made guest appearances on dozens of shows throughout his career.
Early life
Blum was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Lorraine ({{Nee|Fink}}) and Morton Blum, who worked in the insurance industry.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/29/mark-blum-obituary|title=Mark Blum obituary|first=Ryan|last=Gilbey|date=March 29, 2020|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330175926/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/29/mark-blum-obituary|archive-date=March 30, 2020|url-status=live}} His family was Jewish.{{cite web |title=Mark Blum, Fixture of Off-Broadway & Loved Character Actor, Dies at 69 |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198940/mark-blum-fixture-of-off-broadway-loved-character-actor-dies-at-69/ |publisher=Broadway.com |access-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326211929/https://www.broadway.com/buzz/198940/mark-blum-fixture-of-off-broadway-loved-character-actor-dies-at-69/ |archive-date=26 March 2020 |url-status=live }} He grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey,{{cite web|author=Staff|url=https://villagegreennj.com/obituaries/mark-blum-chs-class-of-68-lead-in-desperately-seeking-susan-mozart-in-the-jungle-dies-of-coronavirus/|title=Mark Blum, CHS Class of '68, Lead in Desperately Seeking Susan, Mozart in the Jungle, Dies of Coronavirus|work=The Village Green of Maplewood & South Orange|location=Maplewood, New Jersey|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|quote=According to former Maplewood Township Committeeman Noel Siegel, Mark grew up in Maplewood and was the son of former Maplewood Planning Board Chair Mort Blum and his wife Loraine.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327142417/https://villagegreennj.com/obituaries/mark-blum-chs-class-of-68-lead-in-desperately-seeking-susan-mozart-in-the-jungle-dies-of-coronavirus/|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}} and graduated from Columbia High School in 1968{{cite news|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/03/nj-actor-mark-blum-star-of-desperately-seeking-susan-mozart-in-the-jungle-dies-from-coronavirus.html|title=N.J. actor Mark Blum, star of 'Desperately Seeking Susan,' 'Mozart in the Jungle,' dies from coronavirus|first=Amy|last=Kuperinsky|publisher=NJ.com|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326195255/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/03/nj-actor-mark-blum-star-of-desperately-seeking-susan-mozart-in-the-jungle-dies-from-coronavirus.html|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live}} and was inducted into the school's hall of fame in 2012.{{cite web|last=Mann|first=Mary|url=https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/zach-braff-inducted-columbia-high-school-hall-fame/|title=Zach Braff Inducted Into Columbia High School Hall of Fame|work=The Village Green of Maplewood & South Orange|location=Maplewood, New Jersey|date=May 29, 2015|access-date=November 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113125422/https://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/zach-braff-inducted-columbia-high-school-hall-fame/|archive-date=November 13, 2018|url-status=live}} He then went on to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania.{{Cite web|url=https://tvline.com/2020/03/26/mark-blum-dead-coronavirus-desperately-seeking-susan-dies/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200326193915/https://tvline.com/2020/03/26/mark-blum-dead-coronavirus-desperately-seeking-susan-dies/|archive-date = 2020-03-26|title = Mark Blum, Longtime Character Actor, Dead of Coronavirus Complications|date = 26 March 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://cla.umn.edu/theatre/news/remembering-mark-blum|title=Remembering Mark Blum | Theatre Arts & Dance | College of Liberal Arts|date=April 2020 }}
Career
Blum started acting on stage in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he acted in the movies Lovesick (1983), Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Just Between Friends (1986), Crocodile Dundee (1986), Blind Date (1987), and The Presidio (1988). He later appeared in Coin Heist (2017).
On television, he co-starred in Sweet Surrender in 1987. He also appeared on the following programs: Capital News in 1990, Frasier in 1997, and NYPD Blue in 1999. From 2014 to 2018, he appeared in Mozart in the Jungle.{{cite book|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present|year=2003|publisher=Ballantine Books |location=New York City |isbn=978-0345497734|pages=1159, 188}}
Blum won an Obie Award for his performance as Al in the Playwrights Horizons production of Albert Innaurato's play, Gus and Al, during the 1988–1989 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-mark-blum-dead-coronavirus-20200326-lhc37pnujnc2xo44mnax4vzqoe-story.html|title=Mark Blum, 'Desperately Seeking Susan' star, dies from coronavirus complications|first=Dave|last=McNary|agency=Variety|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132953/https://www.baltimoresun.com/coronavirus/ct-nw-mark-blum-dead-coronavirus-20200326-lhc37pnujnc2xo44mnax4vzqoe-story.html|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}} On Broadway, he appeared in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers, Gore Vidal's The Best Man, and Richard Greenberg's The Assembled Parties. In 2013, he appeared as Max in the Primary Stages production of The Model Apartment. Blum was on the faculty of HB Studio in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://hbstudio.org/instructors/blum-mark/|title=Acting Teacher Mark Blum|publisher=HB Studio - Acting Classes in NYC|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326193906/https://hbstudio.org/instructors/blum-mark/|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live}}
In 2018, Blum was cast in a recurring role as Ivan Mooney in the former Lifetime thriller series You.{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1065130/You-Netflix-spoilers-what-happened-to-Mr-Mooney-Joe-Goldberg-Mark-Blum-Penn-Badgley|title=You on Netflix spoilers: What happened to Mr Mooney? What did he do to Joe?|last=Mitchell|first=Molli|work=Daily Express|location=London|date=January 17, 2019|access-date=June 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606111923/https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1065130/You-Netflix-spoilers-what-happened-to-Mr-Mooney-Joe-Goldberg-Mark-Blum-Penn-Badgley|archive-date=June 6, 2019|url-status=live}} He regularly acted at Playwrights Horizons, an off-Broadway theater in New York City. Blum frequently appeared on Broadway, including in the revival of Twelve Angry Men.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/entertainment/mark-blum-death-trnd/index.html|title=Mark Blum, actor in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' and 'You,' dies of coronavirus complications|first=Scottie|last=Andrew|publisher=CNN|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327012248/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/26/entertainment/mark-blum-death-trnd/index.html|archive-date=March 27, 2020|url-status=live}} His recent Broadway credits included The Assembled Parties, Gore Vidal's The Best Man—twice—and Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers.{{cite web|url=https://time.com/5811078/mark-blum-actor-dies-coronavirus/|title='A Beautiful Human.' Veteran Actor Mark Blum Dies at 69 of Coronavirus Complications|agency=Associated Press|magazine=Time|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326231519/https://time.com/5811078/mark-blum-actor-dies-coronavirus/|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=dead}}
Blum was active in the Screen Actors Guild, having served on the New York and national boards.{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mark-blum-actor-law-order-succession-dies-coronavirus-n1169986|title=Mark Blum, actor on 'Law & Order' and 'Succession,' dies from coronavirus|first1=Diana|last1=Dasrath|first2=David K.|last2=Li|publisher=NBC News|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329125733/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mark-blum-actor-law-order-succession-dies-coronavirus-n1169986|archive-date=March 29, 2020|url-status=live}}
Personal life and death
Blum was married to actress Janet Zarish,{{cite web |last1=Keller |first1=Ilana |title=Actor Mark Blum, 'Desperately Seeking Susan' and 'You' star, dies of coronavirus complications |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/03/26/coronavirus-mark-blum-dies-complications-desperately-seeking-susan/2919609001/ |newspaper=USA Today |publisher=Gannett|location=Mclean, Virginia|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=April 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327002508/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/03/26/coronavirus-mark-blum-dies-complications-desperately-seeking-susan/2919609001/ |archive-date=27 March 2020 |url-status=live }} who appeared on television as Natalie Bannon on As the World Turns and as Lee Halpern on One Life to Live.{{Cite web|url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/one-life-to-live/actors/janet-zarish/|title=Janet Zarish|date=June 4, 2015|publisher=Soaps.com|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326193904/https://soaps.sheknows.com/one-life-to-live/actors/janet-zarish/|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live}}
Blum died from complications associated with COVID-19 at New York–Presbyterian Hospital on March 25, 2020, aged 69, during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/mark-blum-star-of-desperately-seeking-susan-and-you-dies-at-69-due-to-coronavirus-complications/|title=Mark Blum, Star of 'Desperately Seeking Susan' and 'You,' Dies at 69 Due to Coronavirus Complications|work=TheWrap|publisher=The Wrap, Inc.|location=Santa Monica, California|date=March 26, 2020|last=Welk|first=Brian|access-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326160350/https://www.thewrap.com/mark-blum-star-of-desperately-seeking-susan-and-you-dies-at-69-due-to-coronavirus-complications/|archive-date=March 26, 2020}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-blum-dead-stage-veteran-actor-crocodile-dundee-dies-coronavirus-complciations-at-69-1286823|title=Mark Blum, Stage Veteran and Actor in 'Crocodile Dundee,' Dies From Coronavirus Complications at 69|last=Barnes|first=Mike|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Valence Media|location=Los Angeles, California|date=March 26, 2020|access-date=March 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326203030/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mark-blum-dead-stage-veteran-actor-crocodile-dundee-dies-coronavirus-complciations-at-69-1286823|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live}} The season 3 premieres of You and Succession were dedicated to Blum's memory,[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/you-episode-1-mark-blum-b1939069.html You season 3: Who is Mark Blum, the person episode 1 is dedicated to?] as well as the second episode of the fifth season of Billions.
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1984
| Dr. Vogel | Episode: "Two Balls and a Strike" |
| 1987
| Ken Holden | 6 episodes |
| 1987
| Sid Shenker | Episode: "Contempt of Court" |
| 1990
| Edison King | 13 episodes |
| 1991
| Roseanne | Mike Summers | Episode: "Aliens" |
| 1992
| Condition Critical | Dr. Howard Zuckerman | TV movie |
| 1993
| Dr. Roland Sachs | Episode: "From Hare to Eternity" |
| 1993–1998
| Brooklyn A.D.A. Frank Lazar | 2 episodes |
| 1995
| Indictment: The McMartin Trial | Wayne Satz | TV movie |
| 1995
| Dr. Vincent | Episode: "The Highest Bidder" |
| 1995
| C.P.W. | Ben | 5 episodes |
| 1995
| Michael Aronson | Episode: "Seed" |
| 1996
| Wings | Larry Mohr | Episode: "What About Larry" |
| 1996–1999
| FBI Agent Mike Francis | 2 episodes |
| 1997
| Ink | Greg Armstrong | Episode: "Face Off" |
| 1997
| Frasier | John | Episode: "The 1000th Show" |
| 1999
| Randall Curtin | Episode: "Meadowlands" |
| 1999
| Rep. Katzenmoyer | Episode: "Five Votes Down" |
| 2000
| Russell Hollenbeck | Episode: "Stealing Home" |
| 2001
| Deadline | Rabbi Jonathan Ahrenthal | Episode: "The First Commandment" |
| 2001
| Ed | Arnold Bancroft | Episode: "Goodbye Sadie" |
| 2002
| State's Atty. Michael Scannel | Episode: "Evil/Doers" |
| 2003
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dr. Philip Oliver | Episode: "Con-Text" |
| 2004
| Jim Rennert | Episode: "Deadline" |
| 2004
| Richard Kinrich | Episode: "Slade's Chophouse" |
| 2006
| Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Professor Larry Lewis | Episode: "Proud Flesh" |
| 2008
| Dr. MacVittie | Episode: "Soldier's Heart" |
| 2008
| Fringe | Dr. Claus Penrose | Episode: "The Same Old Story" |
| 2009
| Expert Doctor | Episode: "Dignity" |
| 2009
| Mercy | Dr. Austin | Episode: "I'm Not That Kind of Girl" |
| 2010
| Julius Kreutzer | Episode: "Unplugged" |
| 2011
| Dr. Parkinson | TV movie |
| 2011
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | David Arnoff | Episode: "Personal Fouls" |
| 2012
| Pan Am | Captain Jackson | Episode: "1964" |
| 2014–2018
| Union Bob | 30 episodes |
| 2016
| Noah Shuster | Episode: "Lady Ambrosia (No. 77)" |
| 2017
| Rabbi Schecter | Episode: "Fuzz Buddies" |
| 2018
| You | Mr. Mooney | 4 episodes |
| 2018
| Ira Langstrom | Episode: "Bits and Pieces" |
| 2018–2019
| Bill Lockhart | 2 episodes |
| 2019
| Julius Kreutzer | Episode: "The One Where the Sun Comes Out" |
| 2020
| Dr. Lewis | Episode: "Generational AF" |
| 2020
| Tommy | Jacob Fulton | 2 episodes, posthumous release |
| 2020
| Billions | Dr. Mark Rutenberg | 1 episode, posthumous release |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! class="unsortable" | Role |
|---|
| 2000
| Gordon Temple |
| 2010
| Maurice Horton, Dr. Emil Hartman, Dr. Barclay Colvin |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{IBDB name}}
- {{IOBDB name|1835}}
- [http://www.theatredb.com/QPerson.php?pid=p004091 Mark Blum] at the Internet Theatre Database
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blum, Mark}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Columbia High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in New York (state)
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:Male actors from Newark, New Jersey