N.J. actor Mark Blum, star of ‘Desperately Seeking Susan,’ ‘Mozart in the Jungle,’ dies from coronavirus
Veteran actor Mark Blum has died from complications of the coronavirus disease.
Blum, a Newark native known for his roles in TV series including “Mozart in the Jungle” and films like “Desperately Seeking Susan,” was 69.
Rebecca Damon, executive vice president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, announced Blum’s death on social media.
“Mark was smart, funny, and a true actor’s actor,” she tweeted. “He will be deeply missed.”
Blum played Gary Glass, a hot tub salesman married to unhappy Fort Lee housewife Roberta Glass (Rosanna Arquette) in Susan Seidelman’s 1985 mistaken identity film “Desperately Seeking Susan," opposite Madonna.
“I’m so deeply sad for his family and for his fans,” Arquette tweeted. “He was a wonderful actor and a very good and kind man. May you rest In peace and power Mark. God bless you.”
For four seasons, the actor also played Union Bob, a piccolo player in the Amazon series “Mozart in the Jungle" who keeps the conductor of the New York Symphony apprised of all the union rules.
Blum, an alumnus of Columbia High School in Maplewood, also played the hapless scapegoat Bill on HBO’s “Succession" and Mr. Mooney on the Lifetime/Netflix series “You." He appeared in the 1986 film “Crocodile Dundee" as well as in the movies “The Presidio" (1988) and “Shattered Glass” (2003).
Blum played Randall Curtin in a 1999 episode of “The Sopranos” called “Meadowlands" and appeared in other series like “Billions," “NYPD Blue,” “Frasier,” “Law & Order" and “Capital News.”
He was a respected theater actor, starring in Broadway shows “The Graduate,” Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers,” “The Best Man,” “Twelve Angry Men” and “The Merchant.”
Blum won an Obie Award for playing Al in a production of “Gus and All" at the off-Broadway theater Playwrights Horizons. The theater memorialized Blum on Twitter, calling him “a dear longtime friend and a consummate artist.”
“Thank you, Mark, for all you brought to our theater, and to theaters and audiences across the world,” Playwrights tweeted. "We will miss you.”
Blum is survived by his wife, actress Janet Zarish.
“When I was in drama school Mark Blum was exactly the kind of actor I aspired to be: constantly employed, deeply respected, total mensch,” tweeted “Hunters” actor Josh Radnor. “Gutted to hear of his passing. His wife Janet Zarish was my acting teacher at NYU. They were the loveliest couple. My heart breaks for her.”
Trenton native Judith Light also shared a remembrance of Blum.
“Mark Blum, so generous, so kind, so humble, so talented,” she tweeted. Our time together in the play The Assembled Parties at MTC (Manhattan Theatre Club) 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."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/nj-actor-mark-blum-star-of-desperately-seeking-susan-mozart-in-the-jungle-dies-from-coronavirus/ar-BB11L66q?ocid=spartandhp