Madonna and Rosanna Arquette remembered their Desperately Seeking Susan co-star Mark Blum today, joining a lengthy and growing roster of Hollywood and Broadway stars mourning the actor who died of complications from the coronavirus.
“I Want to Acknowledge the Passing of a remarkable Human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to Coronavirus,” Madonna posted on Instagram. “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!! Another reminder that this virus is no joke, nothing to be casual about or pretend wont affect us in some way….we need to stay grateful -be hopeful- and follow the quarantine rules!”
“He was a wonderful actor and a very good and kind man,” tweeted Arquette, saying she was deeply saddened by “this very very hard news…”
Others recalling Blum include Marlo Thomas, Dana Delany, Mark Hamill, Judith Light, Josh Radnor and Cynthia Nixon, among many more.
Read the remembrances below.
In addition to starring on stage, in films and on television, Blum was a sought-after acting teacher with New York’s HB Studio. His generosity with younger co-stars was noted by both Topher Grace and James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who appeared with Blum in the 1997 Off Broadway production of Nicky Silver’s comedy My Marriage to Ernest Borgnine, recalled the late actor as “generous and kind,” noting “I learned so much from him about how to be a professional – lessons that got me through the insanity that was to come.” Van Der Beek recalls a particular act of kindness Blum showed to one of their co-stars.
From SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris:
“This is a painful loss to our SAG-AFTRA family. Mark Blum understood that all performers working in this industry share the same employers and that our strength depends on our unity. He was a visionary. Mark will be deeply missed, and our hearts go out to his wife, Janet Zarish, his friends and all of his loved ones.”
From SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President and New York Local President Rebecca Damon:
“Mark Blum was a passionate champion for merger and a tireless advocate for members. Those of us lucky enough to have known him will treasure our memories of a gifted actor, a master teacher, a loyal friend and a beautiful human. I always appreciated Mark’s clear perception of complex situations. Mark was smart, funny and a true actor’s actor.”
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