The veteran Broadway and movie actor Mark Blum has died at a New York-Presbyterian Hospital after being diagnosed a week prior with the coronavirus. His wife of 15 years, Janet Zarish, told Daily Mail that the couple had “not travelled recently or knowingly been in contact with anyone with the virus.” The 69-year-old Blum had however been an asthma sufferer.
The tragic news first came to light via a social media post by the New York-based theatre company Playwrights Horizons who wrote: 'With love and heavy hearts, Playwrights Horizons pays tribute to Mark Blum, a dear long-time friend and a consummate artist who passed this week.
'Thank you, Mark, for all you brought to our theatre, and to theatres and audiences across the world. We will miss you.”
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. pic.twitter.com/NMVZFB5hPb
— Playwrights Horizons (@phnyc) March 26, 2020
Most recently Blum played Mr Mooney on Netflix's hit show You, which in January was renewed for a third season by the streaming service.
His career on Broadway spanned nearly 40 years, he also had more than 80 films under his belt including the worldwide 1986 hit Crocodile Dundee. A year prior he played Rosanna Arquette's husband in the 1985 romantic comedy Desperately Seeking Susan, which also starred a very young Madonna.
Madonna was one of the first celebrities to react to his death by sharing a picture of them together from the movie. She wrote: ‘I Want to Acknowledge the Passing of a remarkable Human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to Coronavirus.’
'This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him, his family and his loved ones. I remember him as funny warm, loving and professional when we made Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985!!
She went on to remind her followers about the seriousness of the pandemic, writing: 'Another reminder that this virus is no joke, nothing to be casual about or pretend won’t affect us in some way. ♥? we need to stay grateful -be hopeful- help each other-and follow the quarantine rules.'
I Want to Acknowledge the Passing of a remarkable Human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to Coronavirus. This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him, his family and his loved ones. I remember him as funny warm, loving and... https://t.co/ipPj0eChmI pic.twitter.com/k3BgKZRRa9
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 26, 2020
Rosanna Arquette tweeted: 'I’m so deeply sad for his family and for his fans. he was a wonderful actor and a very good and kind man. May you Rest In Peace and power mark. God bless you.'
