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Mark O'Donnell Obituary
Jack Tantleff, O'Donnell's agent at the Paradigm agency, said the writer collapsed in the lobby of his apartment complex on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
"He was a huge talent, and a warm, witty and wonderful man who marched to his own drummer," Tantleff said.
O'Donnell won the 2003 Tony for best book of a musical for co-writing "Hairspray" with Thomas Meehan, and the pair earned Tony nominations in 2008 for doing the same for another John Waters work, "Cry-Baby."
O'Donnell was picked to help write the musical version of the 1988 Waters movie "Hairspray" because producer Margo Lion felt he "could appreciate Waters' voice but was idiosyncratic enough to inject his own personality into the piece."
The story centers on an overweight white teenager who lives to dance on "The Corny Collins Show," Baltimore's version of "American Bandstand." She also wants to integrate its all-white environs, and, along the way, be accepted for her full-figured self.
"The structure I had in mind was: Girl does Mash Potato, girl charms Baltimore, girl integrates nation," O'Donnell told The Associated Press in 2002. "My script was like a great Mad magazine article."
His other plays include "That's It, Folks!" "Fables for Friends," "The Nice and the Nasty," "Strangers on Earth," "Vertigo Park" and the musical "Tots in Tinseltown."
He wrote two novels, "Getting Over Homer" and "Let Nothing You Dismay," and published two collections of comic stories, "Elementary Education" and "Vertigo Park and Other Tales."
He also adapted Georges Feydeau's "Private Fittings" for the La Jolla Playhouse in California and a symphonic version of "Pyramus and Thisbe" for the Kennedy Center.
He received a Guggenheim Fellowship and the George S. Kaufman Award.
An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.
MARK KENNEDY,AP Drama Writer
Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
49 Entries
Panny Putnam-Nichols
October 23, 2017
What a sad day to learn of Mark's death. We all spent wonderful summers with Mark at South Pond Cabins, a boys camp in N.H. He was a wonderful caring,talented young man and brought lots of joy and good times to us all. We feel oh so lucky to have known him and send all his family our most sincere condolences.
Panny Putnam NIchols for the whole SPC family
Harry Simpson
August 6, 2015
Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.
Ted Janollari
September 7, 2012
My sincere condolences to the O'Donnell family and especially Steve. I remember Mark from as far back as Willard Elementary. His humor and quick wit were special even then. May he rest in peace.
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Sylvia (Barcovic) Risher
September 4, 2012
My heart goes out to the O'Donnell family. So very sorry to hear of your loss. Mark's sister was my roommate in college and I spent several Thanksgiving vacations with the O'Donnell family... Many fond memories of Mark and Steven. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
August 25, 2012
Memories of the O'Donnell family on West 95th Street, come flooding back to me (the front porch gatherings, swinging in the backyard, word games...). My heart aches for Steve and his siblings. Peace. Joanne Hoven Stohs (Yorba Linda, CA).
Peggy Brennan Stockdale
August 15, 2012
What a loss for the entire theater world and all of us. I had the pleasure of knowing him and Steve at JMH - even being 2 yrs younger, they both always made me feel pretty special. so glad I got to see both of them when they were inducted into the JMH Hall of Fame a few years ago. He will be greatly missed. thoughts and prayers to the entire family!
Angela Hoven Bologna
August 14, 2012
My sincere condolences to the O'Donnell family at this time of such great sorrow and loss. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Joe Westerfield
August 13, 2012
I took a couple of classes with Mark 20 years or so ago, and he was an excellent teacher. Over the years, I would see him in the neighborhood, and he was always interested in how I was doing and he always had an encouraging word. He was very special.
Kathy Parker
August 13, 2012
I was an usher at the theater in Seattle where Hairspray developed. Mark consulted me now and then about which wording of script I thought was funnier and always was just a wonderful person to have around. Love to his family.
Kevin Worth
August 13, 2012
Words fail me and I am bereft at the loss of my dear in friend of over 30 years. I hope to be in touch with Steven when convenient... Kevin Worth
K. Lancaster
August 12, 2012
Deepest sympathies to the O'Donnell family. I hope you find comfort in the fond memories of his friends.
From another JMH classmate '72
Maureen O'Donnell
August 12, 2012
May Mark's incredible life be a reminder to all of us, that one person CAN make a difference!!! That he did!
As always, with overflowing love, Sis' Maureen
Maureen Corrigan-Buona
August 12, 2012
Wow - so sad for all my cousins to have lost such a dear brother, he was kindly and amazing.
Nina Warner
August 11, 2012
So very sorry for your sudden loss. I got to work down the hall from him, while he was at the Comedy Channel. Such a sweet man, with a hearty wit. He even served me eggs and sausages in his kitchen. His books and fine humor have traveled with me. I will miss him. Blessings to your family.
August 11, 2012
Mark was always friendly, always supportive, always funny---always.
Cindy Pierce, a Cleveland friend
Mary Wallach
August 11, 2012
I am shocked and saddened at Mark's sudden passing. As a former Clevelander and Harvard alum, I hope that he and William Alfred are conferencing about
literature and theater in a better place. My condolences to Steve and his family.
Terence Kenny
August 11, 2012
I knew Mark from Dublin, Ireland when he was trying to be true to some type of Rotary Club scholarship and we ended up in the same school. He bolted after a couple of months being way too clever to put up with pompous Joyce scholars takes on creative writing as well as unable to do Rotary meetings! I last saw him backstage at SNL with Bill Murray. He was then on his way. I was always glad of his success.
Sorry to hear he's gone.
Nick Davis
August 10, 2012
Mark was a sweet and brilliant and talented man, and what made him all the more remarkable was how much he appreciated the talents of others. For one so gifted to be also so giving in his praise was so amazing, and rare. I never had the opportunity to take a class with him, but he was obviously a great teacher as well. I wish I had asked him more about writing.
After our mutual friend Sam Johnson passed away in 1993, a group of us gathered at Mark's house to mourn and celebrate Sam's life -- how strange and sad that Mark has now joined Sam.
Deepest condolences to his friends and family.
August 9, 2012
My condolences to Steve and the O'Donnell family. I met Mark and his twin Steve at John Marshall High School in the 1970's. Mark was always kind and immensely talented even back then. The world has lost someone very special.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the O'Donnell family.
Linda (Schuller) Little
John Marshall High School - Class of '72
Shelley Broadhead-Beil
August 9, 2012
I am still totally shocked by Mark's passing. My heart goes out to his family, but most especially to my friend Steve who must feel lost.
L. Kerr
August 9, 2012
So saddened to hear of Mark's passing. I have many happy memories of Mark at JMH, especially in marching band. My deepest condolences to the O'Donnell family and Mark's many friends. May time and cherished memories bring you comfort.
August 8, 2012
Celebrating a life well lived. We will cherish the memories forever.
Lucie Binger Spieler
August 8, 2012
Although we were Harvard classmates, I didn't get to know Mark until we were neighbors on the Upper West Side. What I remember is his sweetness. A sad, sad loss for any who knew him. To Steve and the other O'Donnell siblings, there will be no filling that hole; but you were privileged to have had him.
Guy Reyes
August 8, 2012
I will never forget meeting you at John Marshall H.S. I was having a bad day and you made me feel good. Thank you.
Ralph & Sheila (Broadway) Russo
August 8, 2012
Our deepest sympathies we extend to the family of Mark. We have warm and happy memories of Mark at JMH where he was always so kind and happy. Our prayers are with you all. May he rest in peace. '72
Peter Zurkow
August 8, 2012
I had the honor of playing a number of Hasty Pudding roles written by Mark. Among the great humorists of his generation, which was obvious to all who knew him even then. Never laughed harder than when I borrowed his lecture notes only to find dozens of jokes about each class topic in the margin. So much talent lost to the world too early in life. That he engaged the world with such humility and lack of pretention, both in college and by all reports since, is all the more reason to celebrate his life.
T B
August 8, 2012
I adored his work. RIP.
Chris Vasco
August 8, 2012
Such shocking and sad news. I've followed closely - with admiration - the careers of Mark and his brother Steve and have spoken of them often to friends. I have many fond memories of our days on the school paper at John Marshall HS. My sincere sympathies to Steve and the rest of the O'Donnell Family.
Debbie Jackson
August 8, 2012
So sorry for the loss of Mark, he will be greatly missed. Such comfort we find from the source of all comfort our Creator. Psalm 119: 76
Amy Smith
August 7, 2012
So glad to have met Mark at Caroline and
Alex's wedding. Special memories for the entire family. Special person.
Rob J
August 7, 2012
I'm so sorry to hear about Mark's passing. He was a wonderful, generous teacher as well as a brilliant writer. All kindness and humility. I feel lucky to have known him.
Marge Pauls
August 7, 2012
Thoughts and prayers for the O'Donnell family and and all those who knew and loved Mark.
mike munday
August 7, 2012
The world has lost a true artist and wonderful person.
Class of '72 JMH
walter lawson
August 7, 2012
so so sorry to hear of your loss, i knew them when they were just little boys i was best man at his brother william odonnell wedding
mrs. Tana (Dennis) O'Donnell
August 7, 2012
It was my pleasure as your sister-in-law to enjoy all the humor you have shared over the years with all of our family. You were eight years old when our lives connected.You are special and never be forgotten. Love you forever and prayers, Tana O'Donnell
Janice Krickhan
August 7, 2012
Rest in Peace, Mark.
JMH Class of '72
R L
August 7, 2012
Kind and generous unto the end, and I'm so glad I got to see you again this year.
August 7, 2012
My deepest sympathy to the O'Donnell family. May God carry you all through this time and beyond for your loss will never go away. My memories are of Mark and Steve when I was a young girl living just a few doors down from them in Cleveland. They both help me get my sister home safe on July 4th 1969 when a big storm hit our town. Mark was a very nice person. Our loss is heavens gain.
Richard Farruggio
August 7, 2012
Mark, you were a brilliant writer and a kind spirit. May you shine in heaven among the very best. Rest in peace.
Beth Levine
August 7, 2012
A rare combination of brilliance, wit, fun with empathy and genuine kindness. The memory that stands out for me is being at a party with him when I was eight months pregnant and barely able to move. I drop onion dip on my pretty party shoes, and without missing a beat, Mark got a napkin, got down on both knees and cleaned my shoes, and then just went back to our conversation. A true gentleman and gentle man.
Lynn (Betor) Marcotte
August 7, 2012
My deepest sympathies to the O'Donnell Family. I remember Mark from my childhood on Cleveland's West Side--Willard School, Wilbur Wright and John Marshall. Witty, talented and polite--that's how I remember him.
August 7, 2012
With deepest sympathy to the O'Donnell family during your time of grief...Psalm 46:1...God is for us a refuge and strength, A help that is readily to be found during difficult times...May God provide you with peace and comfort to endure the days ahead.
Lorraine Denson
August 7, 2012
"From the hand of Sheol (common grave), I shall redeem them. From death I shall recover them."
Hosea 13:14
Charmaine Ferenczi
August 7, 2012
Rest in peace Mark! You were a lovely and brilliant man. You will make everyone in heaven laugh.
Tom Feran
August 7, 2012
A gracious and lovely man who carried his huge talent generously and humbly. We're grateful for his friendship and will always remember his laughter.
Annette Barbasch
August 7, 2012
Lovely and kind hearted, with an incandescent mind. Though his intellect was many cuts above the rest, he never allowed it to bring others down. Gracious and unforgettable. He will be missed very much.
Alicia Ciliberto
August 7, 2012
I am so sorry to learn of Mark's passing. He and I worked together on The Interpreter newspaper at John Marshall High School and even then you could tell how talented he was. More than 30 years later I saw him at an event in Cleveland after he won the Tony and had achieved so much success, but yet he recognized me and was just as pleasant and humble. My sympathies to his brother Steve and his whole family. Alicia Ciliberto
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