The president of Tyler Perry Studios, Steve Mensch, has passed away at the age of 62 following a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday night in Florida.
Mensch – who was also the manager of general operations – had been piloting a single-seater plane when he crashed on a road in the city of Homosassa, TMZ reported on Saturday.
Police informed local media that the crash occurred on West White Dogwood Drive which is near highway US 98.
The cause of the plane crash is currently under investigation.
Steve is survived by his wife and also 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.’
The president of Tyler Perry Studios, Steve Mensch (pictured), has passed away at the age of 62 following a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday night in Florida
Mensch had been piloting a single-seater plane when he crashed on a road in the city of Homosassa, TMZ reported on Saturday; Perry seen earlier this month in L.A.
‘Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well beloved in the community of Atlanta.’
The statement concluded with, ‘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.’
Steve had been president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta since 2016 – after the actor himself initially acquired the 330-acre lot back in 2015.
The studio is located at the former Fort McPherson army base, and contains 40 buildings, 12 sound stages as well as 200 acres of greenery and backlots.
An assortment of sets are also available for filming – and include the White House, baseball fields, a courtroom, a historic district, mansions, a police station and restaurants.
During a past interview for the studio website, Mensch had been described as, ‘one of the most influential people in the film and TV production industry in Georgia.’
‘He has executive experience in operations, strategic planning, budgeting, business development, and marketing at some of the biggest companies in the industry.’
The conversation appeared to have taken place amid 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 are heartbroken over Mensch’s passing, TMZ was told; seen in 2019 in Atlanta
Steve is survived by his wife and also their three children
Steve reflected on the studios expanding to a former military base – which had become an army post back in 1867.
‘The most humbling part of my job is being on the post daily,’ Mensch stated at the time. ‘The history that was made here and decisions that affected the world from the buildings that I walk through daily is as I said humbling.’
He later expressed that, ‘with the lot spread across 330 acres and the historic district with forty circa 1880 buildings, TPS has proven to be an unique practical shooting location.’
Steve added that alongside Perry’s own projects, outside television and film productions – such as The Walking Dead – have also utilized the studio in Atlanta.
‘As a major studio and with Tyler leading the vision, I expect we will constantly be adding to the services and offerings on the lot to meet the needs of the creative.’
Mensch also had the chance to share his thoughts about working alongside 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 an individual who is a creative and leading the vision for creating a home for creatives is incredibly energizing.’
He further continued that, ‘Tyler Perry Studios is making history where history was made.’
Steve had been president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta since 2016 – after the actor himself initially acquired the 330-acre lot back in 2015; Perry seen above in 2020 at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta
Before becoming the president of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Steve was the president of Third Rail Studios in 2016, according to his official LinkedIn page.
Mensch was also previously the president and CEO of Qingdao Oriental Movie Industrial Park/Wanda Studios Qingdao located in China.
He had also worked as the Director Studio and Location Operations and the Director Strategic Production Partnerships for Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta for nine years.
In 1985, Steve graduated from the University of Buffalo with a Bachelor of Science – Business Administration and Management, General.
