Stranger Things star dead after tragic cancer diagnosis
Mark Withers, known for his role in Stranger Things, has sadly passed away at the age of 77 on November 22. The actor, also recognised for his parts in Dynasty and Magnum, P. I., died following a battle with pancreatic cancer, as confirmed by his daughter Jessie Withers.
In a heartfelt statement to Variety on Friday, she said: "He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humour, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable. Mark's enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike."
The actor's most recent on-screen appearance was in 2019, according to IMDb, rounding off a career that spanned four decades, having started in the 1970s with commercials.
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Fans will remember Mark for his role as Coroner Gary in the first season of Netflix's smash hit series Stranger Things.
Marks' part required him to examine a dead body at the local morgue and he was summoned to the police station to converse with Chief Hopper.
He had several minor roles on legendary hit shows like Wonder Woman, Trapper John, M. D., Death Of A Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story, The Dukes Of Hazzard, Hart To Hart, Remington Steele, Dallas and Matlock.
Mark took a hiatus from acting during the 1990s, apart from one film in 1998, and made a comeback with a role on sitcom Frasier in 2001. His breakout role came in 1981 when he played Ted Dinard, Steve Carrington's boyfriend, in Dynasty.
Throughout his career, Mark also made appearances on popular shows like Wonder Woman, The Dukes Of Hazzard, Dallas and Matlock.
From 1986 to 1987, he even graced the screen in eight episodes of the iconic soap Days Of Our Lives, playing Coach Locke. In recent years, he continued to work in television, landing roles in True Blood, Criminal Minds, Drop Dead Diva, Reckless and, of course, Stranger Things. Before making it big in Hollywood, Mark was a star athlete who won a football scholarship to Penn State, according to Variety.
He kick-started his acting career in advertisements after being discovered by an agent. His TV ad roles included big names like American Airlines, Folger's Coffee, Irish Spring soap, Crest toothpaste, and a notable McDonald's campaign. He leaves behind his wife, Haiyan Liu Withers, and his daughter, Jessie Withers.
