Mark Baker (actor)

Mark Fredric Baker[1] (October 2, 1946 – August 13, 2018) was an American actor. He was best known for the title role in Harold Prince's revival of Candide, for which he received a Tony Award nomination, and his portrayal of Otto Kringelein in the international tour of Grand Hotel.

Mark Baker
Publicity Photo of Mark Baker
Born
Mark Fredric Baker

(1946-10-02)October 2, 1946
DiedAugust 13, 2018(2018-08-13) (aged 71)


Early life

Mark Fredric Baker was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on October 2, 1946, to parents Francis Tweedie and Aretta Sue Swayne. Baker attended Carnegie Mellon University and Wittenberg University. He trained for the stage at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.

Career

Baker made his professional acting debut portraying Linus Van Pelt in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in a 1970 off-Broadway production. In November 1971, Baker appeared at the Mercer-O'Casey Theatre playing the Boy in Love Me, Love My Children. Baker made his Broadway theatre debut in November 1972 playing Cook in Via Galactica,[2] a musical which, having lost nearly $1 million,[3] is considered one of the worst flops in Broadway history.[4][5][6] Baker appeared on Broadway again in 1974 in the title role of Candide, a performance which earned him a Theatre World Award[7] and a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[8]

From 1990 to 1991, Baker appeared as Otto Kringelein in the Broadway international tour of Grand Hotel at venues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan, and received a Helen Hayes Award for his performance at the Kennedy Center.[9] Other venues at which Baker has performed include The Public Theater and what was then referred to as the Martin Beck Theatre.[2] More recently he appeared on a studio recording of George Gershwin's Tip-Toes in 2001.

In 1976, Baker appeared in the romantic adventure film Swashbuckler. The following year, he supplied the voice acting for Raggedy Andy in the animated film Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure.[10] Baker served as assistant director to Ken Russell in the 1977 film Valentino.[2] Baker also appeared in the 1982 film Smithereens, credited as Roger Jett.

Personal life and death

Baker married actress and designer Patricia Britton, though the marriage ended in divorce.

Baker died on August 13, 2018, in Cumberland. He devoted the last twenty years of his life to restoring and operating that city's Embassy Theatre.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1976SwashbucklerLute Player
1977Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical AdventureRaggedy AndyVoice
1977ValentinoDirectorUncredited
2015Phantom LimbsGrandpa
2018StalemateJewish Pawns
2018DinnertimeBill
2020Larry Larissa LindaLarryPosthumous release

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1977A Doonesbury SpecialKirbyVoice
1977Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeHimself
1985St. ElsewhereBuddy AskewEpisode: "Lost and Found in Space"
1985The EqualizerThug #1Episode: "Bump and Run"

References
  1. "Mark Fredric Baker Obituary (1946 - 2018) | Cumberland, Maryland". echovita.com. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  2. Herbert, Ian, ed. (1981). "BAKER, Mark". Who's Who in the Theatre. Vol. 1. Gale Research Company. p. 37. ISBN 978-0810302358.
  3. Calta, Louis (November 30, 1972). "Loss to Space-Age Musical at Uris Put Near $1-Million". The New York Times., available at
  4. Bloom, Ken; Vlastnik, Frank; Orbach, Jerry (2008). Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time. Black Dog Publisher. p. 151. ISBN 978-1579123130.
  5. Kenrick, John (2004). "The 1970s: Part I - Rock Musicals". History of The Musical Stage. Musicals101. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  6. Resnick, Mike; Sawyer, Robert J. (August 2003). Resnick at Large. Wildside Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-1592241606.
  7. "Theatre World Awards Recipients". Theatre World Awards. 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  8. "1974 Tony Award Winners". Broadwayworld.com. 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
  9. "Helen Hayes Award Recipients". TheatreWashington.
  10. Mark Baker at IMDb
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