Tyler Perry Studios president Steve Mensch has passed away at the age of 62 following a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday evening in Florida.
Mensch – who was also general operations manager – was piloting a single-seat plane when he crashed on a road in the town of Homosassa. TMZ reported on Saturday.
Police told local media that the crash occurred on West White Dogwood Drive, near the US 98 freeway.
The cause of the plane crash is currently under investigation.
Steve is survived by his wife and their three children.
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Tyler Perry Studios said: “We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch.”
Tyler Perry Studios president Steve Mensch (pictured) has passed away at the age of 62 following a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday evening in Florida
Mensch was flying a single-seat plane when he crashed on a road in the city of Homosassa, TMZ reported Saturday; Perry spotted in LA earlier this month
“Steve was a beloved member of our team and well-loved in the Atlanta community for over eight years.”
The statement ended, “It’s hard to imagine not seeing him smiling down the halls. We will miss him very much. Our hearts go out to his family as we send our prayers to them all.”
Steve had served as president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta since 2016, after the actor himself acquired the 330-acre property in 2015.
The studio is located on the former Fort McPherson army base and contains 40 buildings, 12 sound stages and 200 hectares of greenery and backyards.
There is also an assortment of sets available for filming, including the White House, baseball fields, a courtroom, a historic district, mansions, a police station and restaurants.
During an earlier interview for the studio websiteMensch was described as “one of the most influential people in the film and TV production industry in Georgia.”
“He has leadership experience in operations, strategic planning, budgeting, business development and marketing at some of the largest companies in the industry.”
The conversation appeared to have taken place during the studio’s transition from Greenbrier to Fort McPherson.
The cause of the plane crash is currently under investigation – and everyone at Tyler Perry Studios is heartbroken over Mensch’s passing, TMZ was told; seen in 2019 in Atlanta
Steve is survived by his wife and their three children
Steve considered expanding the studios to a former military base – which had become an army post in 1867.
“The most humiliating part of my job is that I have to be in the mail every day,” Mensch said at the time. “The history that has been made here and the decisions that have impacted the world from the buildings I walk through every day are, as I said, humbling.”
He later said that “with the property spanning 330 acres and the historic district featuring forty circa-1880 buildings, TPS has proven to be a uniquely practical shooting location.”
Steve added that in addition to Perry’s own projects, outside television and film productions – such as The Walking Dead – have also used the Atlanta studio.
“As a major studio and with Tyler leading the vision, I expect we will continually expand the services and offerings on the lot to meet the needs of the creative.”
Mensch also got the chance to share his thoughts on collaborating with Tyler – who is known for projects such as Tyler Perry’s House Of Payne, Beauty In Black, Diary Of A Mad Black Woman and also Madea’s Family Reunion.
“For me, working for someone who is creative and leading the vision for creating a home for creatives is extremely energizing.”
He continued, “Tyler Perry Studios makes history where history was made.”
Steve had served as president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta since 2016 – after the actor himself initially acquired the 330-acre property in 2015; Perry seen above in 2020 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta
Before becoming president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Steve served as president of Third Rail Studios in 2016, according to his official LinkedIn page.
Mensch also previously served as president and CEO of Qingdao Oriental Movie Industrial Park/Wanda Studios Qingdao in China.
He also spent nine years as Director of Studio and Location Operations and Director of Strategic Production Partnerships for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta.
In 1985, Steve graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science – Business and Management, General.