ATLANTA — The President and General Manager of Studio Operations at Tyler Perry Studios, Steve Mensch, has died.
The studio confirmed his death in a statement on Saturday saying his sudden passing has left them heartbroken.
“We are incredibly saddened to by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch. Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than eight years, and well-beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as well send them our prayers,” The studio said in a statement.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration, a plane registered to Mensch was involved in a crash in Homosassa, Florida on Friday night.
The FAA says a single-engine Vans RV12 plane crashed along the edge of a highway around 8 p.m. Only the pilot was on board.
Florida Highway Patrol says the man on board the plane was pronounced dead on the scene.
TRENDING STORIES:
- A teen volleyball player collapsed on the court. She died after an ambulance never showed up
- Judge garnishes Kim Zolciak’s wages to pay back more than $215,000 owed to American Express
- Georgia vs Texas: Here’s when SEC Championship Game time is, how to watch on Channel 2
The National Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation into the crash.
The single-engine Vans RV-12IS was registered to Mensch at his home address in the Atlanta suburb of Fayetteville, according to FAA records.
Channel 2 Action News is working to learn more details. Get the latest updates on WSBTV.com.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens remembered Mensch as "a trusted friend and supporter of the Mayor's Office of Film and Entertainment. Whether he was hosting national conferences or allowing our interns to tour the grounds of TPS, he was always willing to share his expertise and inspire others to pursue their passion. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at Tyler Perry Studios."
Mensch got into the movie business when he started working for Feature Systems, which provides equipment for the movie industry. He was hired by Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting to run its studio operations, later becoming director of strategic production partnerships. It was there that he began to lobby state government for more aid to movie and television production.
Lee Thomas, Director of the Georgia Film Office, released a statement saying “more than his impressive resume – he was a great friend.”
“Georgia’s film community has suffered a huge loss with the passing of Steve Mensch, President and General Manager of Tyler Perry Studios. When I started at the Georgia Film Office 28 years ago, Steve was already a fixture in the film industry, working as the Vice President of Sales at Feature Systems, one of the handful of equipment suppliers in town. He was instrumental in the growth of studios in Georgia, serving as Director of Studio Operations at Turner Studios and as President of Third Rail Studios before joining Tyler Perry Studios in 2016. Steve was also a staunch advocate for the film tax credit, helping build Georgia into a production powerhouse through his leadership roles at Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition (GSEC) and Georgia Production Partnership (GPP). Steve’s legacy was much more than his impressive resume – he was a great friend. Those who knew him know he had genuine warmth, a great sense of humor, and was always willing to jump in and help whenever needed. On behalf of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Film Office, our thoughts and prayers go out to Steve’s friends and family, the Tyler Perry Studios family, and especially to Steve’s wife and three children. He will certainly be missed.”
Mensch died on the same day that Perry released “The Six Triple Eight,” a war drama about an mostly Black and all-female World War II battalion. The film was shot at the Atlanta studio.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2024 Cox Media Group
