Madonna among stars to pay tribute after actor Mark Blum dies from coronavirus

The 'Desperately Seeking Susan' star has died at the age of 69

Mark Blum has died from coronavirus complications at the age of 69. Getty Images

Madonna has paid tribute to her former co-star Mark Blum, who has died from coronavirus complications at the age of 69.

Blum, who starred alongside the singer in the 1985 film Desperately Seeking Susan, was a regular on the US theatre circuit, and also starred in Crocodile Dundee and Netflix series You.  

His death was confirmed on Friday by the Screen Actors Guild. “This is a painful loss to our SAG-AFTRA family,” said SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris. “Mark Blum understood that all performers working in this industry share the same employers and that our strength depends on our unity. He was a visionary. Mark will be deeply missed, and our hearts go out to his wife, Janet Zarish, his friends and all of his loved ones.”

Madonna posted a tribute to Blum on Instagram shortly after his death was announced, calling him “funny, warm, loving and professional”.

“I want to acknowledge the passing of a remarkable human, fellow actor and friend Mark Blum, who succumbed to coronavirus. This is really tragic and my heart goes out to him, his family and his loved ones,” she wrote. “Another reminder that this virus is no joke, nothing to be casual about or pretend won’t affect us in some way. We need to stay grateful, be hopeful, help each other and follow the quarantine rules!”

The Playwright Horizons theatre group also paid tribute to the actor, calling him "a dear longtime friend and a consummate artist".

While actor Zach Braff  said Blum "could not have been a kinder human being".