Mark Damon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Damon
Damon in 2015
Born	Alan Harris (1933-04-22)April 22, 1933 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	May 12, 2024(2024-05-12) (aged 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA)
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years active	1956–2024
Spouse(s)	Barbara Frey ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1973)​ Margaret Markov ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	2

Mark Damon (born Alan Harris; April 22, 1933 – May 12, 2024) was an American film producer and actor. He was known for his work both in front of and behind the camera.

As an actor, he won a Golden Globe Award for his role in the movie House of Usher. Later, he moved to Italy and became famous for starring in Spaghetti Western films. These were Western movies made in Italy, often with a unique style.

In the 1970s, Mark Damon changed his career to become a film producer. He became one of Hollywood's most successful producers. He started several important film companies, including Producers Sales Organization, Vision International, MDP Worldwide, and Foresight Unlimited.

Early life

Mark Damon was born Alan Harris in Chicago, Illinois. His family was Jewish, and his father was a grocer. When he was young, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he went to Fairfax High School.

During his last year of high school, the famous comedian Groucho Marx noticed his acting talent. However, Damon first decided to study at UCLA. He initially planned to go to dental school. Soon after, he switched to the Anderson School of Management. He earned a business degree (an MBA) and a degree in English. While studying, he also took theater classes and decided he wanted to be an actor.

Career

Actor

Mark Damon began his acting career in Hollywood in 1956. He signed a contract with 20th Century Fox, a major film studio. In 1960, he won a Golden Globe Award as a "Star of Tomorrow." This award recognized him as a promising new actor. He received it for his performance in the film House of Usher. After this success, he moved to Rome, Italy. There, he became a star in Spaghetti Western movies.

Producer

In the mid-1970s, Mark Damon stopped acting to become a film producer. A producer helps manage the making of a movie, from finding money to hiring people. He first learned about selling and producing films independently while living in Italy. He saw a big demand for American movies from international distributors.

When he returned to the U.S. in 1977, he started Producers Sales Organization (PSO). His goal was to sell major American films to distributors around the world. This was a new idea at the time, competing with big studios. Damon's success with PSO made him known as a pioneer in selling films internationally. He also helped create new ways to finance independent films. He developed the common practice of selling foreign rights to a movie before it was even made.

After PSO, he started Vision International. This company helped arrange money and worldwide distribution for many films. In 1993, he founded MDP Worldwide (also known as Mark Damon Productions). This company was later sold and renamed, but Damon continued to be a key figure.

Mark Damon's films have earned over $2 billion at the box office worldwide. He was involved in selling the international rights for more than 300 movies. Some of these famous films include the James Bond movie Never Say Never Again (starring Sean Connery) and Prizzi's Honor (starring Jack Nicholson). He also worked on Once Upon A Time In America (with Robert De Niro) and The Cotton Club (with Richard Gere).

Damon produced or helped produce over 70 films. He also acted in 50 movies. His films received 10 Academy Award nominations. These include the 2005 Oscar winner Monster (starring Charlize Theron). Other well-known films he worked on are the World War II drama Das Boot and The NeverEnding Story. He also worked on The Upside of Anger (with Kevin Costner) and The Lost Boys.

In 2005, Damon started a new company called Foresight Unlimited. This company helped produce, finance, and sell films internationally. Foresight Unlimited worked on movies like And So It Goes (starring Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton). They also helped produce 2 Guns (with Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington) and Lone Survivor (with Mark Wahlberg). In 2019, Foresight Unlimited was sold. Damon also launched a $100 million film fund to invest in movies.

Personal life and death

Mark Damon lived in Beverly Hills, California, with his wife, actress Margaret Markov. They had two children. He passed away in Los Angeles on May 12, 2024, at the age of 91.

Filmography