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Steve Mensch, Tyler Perry Studios president, dies in a airplane crash


The plane is a 2023 Vans RV-12iS owned by Mensch, who resided in Fayetteville, in line with knowledge supplied to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Tyler Perry Studios launched this assertion Saturday morning: “We are extremely saddened by the passing of our expensive buddy Steve Mensch. Steve was a cherished member of our staff for greater than eight years and properly beloved locally of Atlanta. It’s onerous to think about not seeing him smiling all through the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our coronary heart goes out to his household as all of us ship them our prayers.”

Steve Mensch was president of Tyler Perry Studios from 2016 until his death in a plane crash on Dec. 6, 2024. TYLER PERRY STUDIOS

Credit: TYLER PERRY STUDIOS

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Credit: TYLER PERRY STUDIOS

“I’m heartbroken by the lack of my buddy and colleague,” mentioned Gannon Murphy, normal supervisor of Atlanta’s Cinelease Studios. “He typically spoke with a lot love for his household. My ideas are with them throughout this robust time. Steve shall be really missed.”

Movie mogul Tyler Perry shared his condolences on Instagram: “Steve Mensch was really a sort soul and a fantastic chief on the studio. We all adored him and are devastated that he’s gone. I’m praying for his household as all of us attempt to make sense of this heartbreak.”

Mensch was married to Danila and was the daddy of three kids.

A graduate of the University at Buffalo in 1985, Mensch labored at Embassy Suites and AT&T earlier than coming into the leisure enterprise as a normal supervisor and vice chairman of gross sales at Features Systems Inc., which rented out digicam gear and grip gear.

He was one of many key individuals who promoted the state of Georgia to Hollywood producers within the Nineteen Nineties, in line with Ric Reitz, an actor who was instrumental in creating the present movie and TV tax credit score system. Mensch, he mentioned, helped launch the lobbying group the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) and was president for a number of phrases.

“He was attempting to formulate the imaginative and prescient for {the marketplace} earlier than the Olympics and needed a suppose tank of individuals locally to make Georgia aggressive,” Reitz mentioned. “He was an vital determine within the our progress to turn into a powerful movie and TV market.”

Mensch got here to Turner Broadcasting in 2005, the place he oversaw studio amenities and have become director of strategic manufacturing partnerships.

He took over Tyler Perry Studios in 2016 after a yr at a studio in China and some months operating Third Rail Studios in Doraville.

Kaleb McMichen, a longtime senior official on the George House, referred to as Mensch “a tireless advocate for Georgia’s movie trade on the Gold Dome. He was trusted ― at all times spoke plainly and dealt pretty. For all his energy as Tyler Perry’s right-hand man, he displayed zero ego in each interplay he had with our store. Few folks will ever know the way instrumental he was in preserving Georgia’s movie tax credit score over the past decade or so.”

In an interview posted on TylerPerryStudios.com, Mensch cited why he loved working on the studio, which was previously Fort McPherson, an Army put up. “The most humbling a part of my job is being on the put up day by day. The historical past that was made right here and selections that affected the world from the buildings that I stroll by day by day is as I mentioned humbling,” he mentioned.

During a tour of the 330-acre studio with the AJC in 2019, Mensch famous that this was the primary main studio in a few years to construct out not simply stage house however a large again lot, which features a duplicate White House, a diner, a lakeside cabin, a trailer park, suburban houses, and a business jet.

“It’s actually cool to be on these grounds day-after-day,” he mentioned. “I’ve been on the lot of Disney and seen photos of Walt. In 100 years, folks will drive by right here and see photos of Tyler.”

Craig Miller, a neighborhood filmmaker and buddy of Mensch who labored with Mensch at GPP, mentioned “he lived life massive. He was a golfer, a motorcyclist and an airplane pilot.”

Kris Bagwell, who ran EUE Screen Gems on 30 acres of the previous Lakewood Fairgrounds from 2010 till 2021, mentioned Mensch additionally beloved vehicles: “Before we opened in Atlanta, he used to deliver his sports activities automotive and I might let him do donuts down within the outdated parking zone. He beloved the entire ‘Smokey and the Bandit’ legacy there.”

Mensch was additionally basically variety, Miller added: “He might have a dialog with a studio head or a grip and a gaffer and also you’d really feel such as you have been speaking to somebody who cares about what you have been attempting to perform.”

The plane Mensch flew, in line with the Vans web site, is “a two-seat all-metal side-by-side airplane with a big cabin that seats the occupants forward of the wing spar for max room and excellent visibility.”

AJC employees writers Savannah Sicurella and Greg Bluestein contributed to this story.

Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet
Ella Bennet brings a fresh perspective to the world of journalism, combining her youthful energy with a keen eye for detail. Her passion for storytelling and commitment to delivering reliable information make her a trusted voice in the industry. Whether she’s unraveling complex issues or highlighting inspiring stories, her writing resonates with readers, drawing them in with clarity and depth.
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