Mark McGarry, film producer, writer, rock'n'roll aficionado, sports fan, son, brother, and friend, passed away unexpectedly on June 28, 2018 in Woodland Hills, California. 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. The movies were always a big part of Mark's life, and he had an encyclopedic knowledge of filmmakers, 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 graduating in 1980, his passion for film mushroomed; after a couple of 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, Boondock Saints, Kush, Auggie Rose, and of course Desperate but not Serious.

More recently Mark served as the main caregiver and healthcare advocate for both his mother and his stepfather, Nick Nielsen. He 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 will miss Mark for his humor, talent, and honesty, and above all his passion, and we hope he is at peace.