Steve Mensch, president and general manager of studio operations at Tyler Perry Studios, died in a plane crash on Friday night. He was 62.
According to ABC affiliate WFTS-TV in Tampa Bay, Fla., Mensch, who was piloting a single-passenger plane, was found dead Friday night by highway patrol near the intersection of U.S.-98 in Homosassa, Fla. The cause of the crash is under investigation by local authorities.
Perry took to Instagram Saturday to remember his longtime collaborator, writing, “I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day—what went wrong with that plane. Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. Steve Mensch was truly a kind soul and a great leader at the studio. We all adored him and are devastated that he’s gone. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak. Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love AND TELL THEM!”
Related Stories
Since 2016, Mensch has managed Perry’s expansive Atlanta-based studio, which is one of the largest in the U.S. at about 300 acres. The lot, housed at the former Fort McPherson army base, homes both Perry’s projects and productions from outside studios.
Popular on Variety
“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch,” Tyler Perry Studios said in a statement shared with Variety. “Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
Before joining the Perry banner, Mensch was president of another Georgia-based production studio, Third Rail Studios, where he oversaw general operations, staffing and studio development until its grand opening in June 2016. Mensch also served as director of studio, location operations and strategic production partnerships at Turner Broadcasting, where he ran the broadcaster’s studio facilities for about 10 years.
Mensch is survived by his wife and three children.
