Mark was curious about anything musical and had memorized all of his childhood Disney records. In the fourth grade he played violin in the Fairhaven orchestra in Bellingham, WA and in fifth grade, was first chair flute at Yelm middle school.(when he wasn't milking cows, driving the tractor, unloading hay, or demonstrating how to make a rope halter at the Puyallup Fair).
Moving back to Samish Island in the sixth grade, Mark's teacher was impressed with his rendition of "The Entertainer" on the multi-purpose room piano and asked him how many years he had been taking lessons. Mark replied "I've never had piano lessons". Mr Brossard's wife Marilyn, taught lessons from their basement studio off of Bayview Road and six months later, Mark's photo was published in the Mount Vernon Herald for placing high in the county Student Audition Competition. Mark continued piano lessons for High School credit while attending Burlington-Edison High School where he was cast as LINUS in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown. The following year, Mark was cast as the male lead in Babes In Toyland but wasn't able to start rehearsals because his parents moved to Lamoni, Iowa to work for a small liberal arts church college. He graduated one year early from Lamoni Community High School and was a music major his freshman year at GRACELAND University. Mark studied theory, composition, voice from Millicent Dougherty, keyboards and pipe organ.
Mark moved to Seattle Washington in 1982 and became a member of the Seattle Men's Chorus in 1983. He continued his acting in community theatre productions in the greater Seattle area. Having a minor set back (which Mark likes to refer to as a BREAK THROUGH instead of a break down) he was diagnosed bipolar (manic/depressive). Mark is currently writing a one man show to educate and entertain through his experiences about coping and surviving the mental health system.
Mark found acting work in front of the camera as well in Disney's remake of Taming of the Shrew in TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU, starring Heath Ledger and Joseph Gordon Leavitt. After an independent feature that went to Sundance starring Mary Stuart Masterson and Jenna Malone (BOOK OF STARS) and a 3 night mini-series on NBC (PANDORA'S CLOCK) with Richard Dean Anderson and Jane Leaves, Mark packed up the U-Haul and moved to Hollywood in 1998.
The next few years would lead to Administrative positions at E! Entertainment Television, FineLine/NewLine Cinema and Universal Studios. All the while, moonlighting as a Hollywood Cater Waiter.
Mark is currently exploring a new fascination with the cello.
