Mark Sheeler

MARK SHEELER PASSED away of complications arising from a stroke on the evening of August 6, 2015 at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills, CA. Five members of his extended family as well as his caretaker, Nancy Lopez, were with him. He was 92 years old.


Mark was born in New York City on April 24, 1923. His parents were Celia and Harry Sheeler and he was the eldest of three children. Photography was always his
passion and during World War II, he became an aerial photographer in the U.S. Air Force. Following his service, Mark became a radio disk jockey, hosting "The Blues Chaser Club" and other radio shows. Known for his off-the-cuff humor and style, he gained a following while sometimes infuriating station managers. In 1949 while working at Elizabeth, New Jersey radio station WPOE, he met nineteen-year-old Carmella Janet Yannacci, the station's music librarian. Less than six months later, the two said their vows, beginning what was to become a 66-year marriage.


Much traveling followed. The Sheelers moved from Hagerstown, MD, Alexandria, VA, on the East Coast to Duluth, Minnesota and finally, weary of the freezing temperatures, to San José, California. Along the way, Mark went from hosting radio to his first TV show: Time For Beany, where he played Captain Good Deed, with a double-yellow head parrot on his shoulder, who would later become the family pet, "Pretty Boy." His career in television began in earnest, though, when he moved to Los Angeles in 1955. He started as an extra, often appearing on horseback in the various westerns on television at the time. But it wasn't long before he got speaking roles on many different shows. Throughout the '50s Mark appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Adventures of Superman, Mark of Zorro, Highway Patrol, and The Ford Theatre. He also appeared in a number of movies including Speed Crazy, Why Must I Die? and the cult classic From Hell It Came.


During his spare time, Mark's new-found love of horses led to his teaching numerous riding classes. As a special treat, he often led many of his students on their mounts all the way up the trails to the Griffith Observatory for a picnic.


Mark took a long hiatus from acting after the birth of their first child, Carrie, in
1961. Two other children followed: Wade in 1964 and Helene in 1969. Mark earned a
living during this period by means of his first love, photography. From 1962 to 1987
he worked in the reprographics department of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP), later becoming director of reprographics. Also during that time, he started his own business, Mark Sheeler Photography, photographing weddings and Bar Mitzvahs all across the southland. He received his adult school teaching credentials, and taught photography, speed reading and improvisational speaking at Beverly Hills High School, West Valley Occupational Center and several other institutions.


After retiring from the DWP, Mark returned to acting, appearing in episodes of the popular series' Mad About You, E.R., and Chicago Hope. In later life, he was perhaps best known in the recurring role of a "stodgy old banker" in the bankers' pen on the Washington Mutual (WAMU) commercials of 2006 and 2007.


Mark also volunteered to record countless books for the non-profit organization, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFBD). He was also area representative for the San Fernando Valley Benign Essential Blepharospasm (BEB) support group, sponsored by the BEB Research Foundation.


Mark was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Phillip, and sister Helen. Mark is survived by his wife, children Carrie Hernandez, Wade Sheeler, Helene Sheeler-Johnson, their spouses J. Jorge Hernandez, Karen Sheeler, Paul Johnson and grand children, Maisie and Atticus Johnson.


Mark Sheeler will be laid to rest in the Columbarium of Radiant Dawn at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 15th at Forest Lawn's, Church of the Hills:

Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills 6300 Forest Lawn Drive Los Angeles, CA 90068

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mark's name to either

The Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation P.O. Box 12468 Beaumont, TX 77726-2468 www.blepharospasm.org/donation.html

or

Learning Ally (formerly Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic) Financial Development Dept. 20 Roszel Road Princeton, NJ 08540 go.learningally.org/about-learning-ally/donate/