Mark Damon, an acclaimed film producer, sales executive, and actor known for his roles in Spaghetti Westerns, has passed away at 91, as confirmed by his wife.
Born Alan Harris on April 22, 1933, in Chicago, Damon embarked on his Hollywood journey in 1956, signing a contract with 20th Century Fox. He gained recognition with his breakout role in House of Usher, clinching a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
Venturing to Italy to star in Spaghetti Westerns, Damon appeared in several notable films including The Reluctant Saint (1962), The Young Racers (1963), and Black Sabbath (1963).
His career took a significant turn with the establishment of the Producers Sales Organization in 1977, pioneering the sale of American films to global distributors and establishing himself as a trailblazer in independent film production.
In 1993, he founded MDP Worldwide, later renamed Media 8 Entertainment in 2003. As a producer, Damon received multiple Oscar nominations and secured an Academy Award in 2005 for Monster. His producing credits include acclaimed films such as Das Boot, The NeverEnding Story, The Jungle Book, The Lost Boys, and 9 1/2 Weeks.
Following his tenure at Media 8 Entertainment, Damon founded Foresight Unlimited in 2005, a company focused on film production, financing, and sales. His productions amassed over $2 billion in global box office revenue, with a significant impact on the international distribution of more than 300 feature films, including iconic titles like Never Say Never Again, Prizzi’s Honor, Once Upon A Time In America, The Cotton Club, and The Final Countdown.
Throughout his career, Damon produced or executive produced over 70 films and contributed to the production of 50 others. His final production was the 2019 war drama The Last Full Measure, directed by Todd Robinson.
Mark Damon is survived by his wife, Maggie Markov Damon; son Jonathan; daughter Alexis Damon Ribaut and son-in-law Mathieu Ribaut. His life and achievements were chronicled in the 2008 book “From Cowboy to Mogul to Monster,” co-authored by Linda Schreyer and Damon.
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