Mark Joseph McGarry

Mark was born in Massapequa, New York, on June 27, 1962. His family moved to Los Angeles the following year and settled in the San Fernando Valley where Mark would get his education in the LA City School District, graduating from Reseda High School in 1980.

Mark was a lifelong Dodger and Lakers fan. Growing up, Mark played in little league, but also played pickup baseball and basketball games with his neighborhood friends at the local park and at his old elementary school. Thanks to his love of both games he became a big fan of both the Dodgers and Lakers.

The movies were always a big part of Mark’s life as well and he had an encyclopedic-like knowledge of film makers, actors, and the movies themselves. He also became interested in acting and writing which led him to enroll in the Theater Arts program at Reseda High School. After graduation his passion for film mushroomed and after a couple years working in business management, handling the affairs of show business folks, he got into the movie business himself.

Mark started working at Phoenix Films where he began as a personal assistant. He would eventually go on to produce several films including 20 Dates, Desperate But Not Serious, Boondock Saints, Kush, and Auggie Rose. He wanted to go on producing but unfortunately that was not meant to be.

More recently Mark served as the main caregiver and healthcare advocate for both his mother and his stepfather, Nick Nielsen.

Mark leaves behind his mother, Madeline Nielsen, a brother, Michael McGarry, a sister, Nancy Mandel, and his cousin and brother from another mother, Joseph Santoru. He also leaves behind six nieces and nephews and countless friends in the LA area and around the world.

We are truly heartbroken by his passing and feel a gigantic void in all our lives without him here. We will miss Mark for his humor, talent, and honesty, and above all his passion and we hope he is at peace.