Steve Mensch, the president and manager of general operations at Tyler Perry Studios has reportedly died following a plane accident. According to an exclusive report by TMZ, he was killed in a single-seater plane crash in Florida, a tragic event that took place on Friday, December 6. He was just 62 years old.
Highway Patrol Troopers who responded to the scene said the crash occurred on West White Dogwood Drive, close to the busy intersection of US 98 and US 19 in Homosassa. Additional details were not shared. While the investigation is still ongoing, the loss of Mensch has already shocked the industry.
Since taking the helm at Tyler Perry Studios in 2016, shortly after the company had bought the former Fort McPherson army base in Atlanta, Mensch was the driving force behind the operation of the sprawling 300-acre studio. Under his leadership, the studio became synonymous with some of the biggest hits, especially the iconic Madea franchise. Films like “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” “Madea Goes to Jail,” and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” have entertained audiences and left a mark on pop culture, all thanks to the vision and dedication of Tyler Perry, Mensch and their team.
On Tyler Perry.com, Mensch had was credited as being known “for his ability to see opportunities and developments well ahead of others, allowing him to strategically push the industry into new arenas. His efforts have created billions of dollars of economic impact and placed him at the forefront of some of the most groundbreaking projects in TV/Film production history.”
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Mensch also once opened up about the exciting part about his job. He said at the time, “It is the excitement of the unknown. For me working for an individual who is a creative and leading the vision for creating a home for creatives is incredibly energizing. Tyler Perry Studios is making history where history was made.
Mensch is survived by his wife and 3 kids.