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On October 13, 2022, well-known guitarist and actor Mike Schank passed away at the age of 56.
Schank was popular for his appearance in the 1999 documentary film American Movie, and he also composed music for the film. Filmmaker Edgar Wright paid tribute to Schank on social media and wrote:
"RIP Mike Schank, the sweet funny soul at the heart of the extraordinary doc 'American Movie.' Me, Simon & Nick were obsessed with it and since they included Mike's home number on the DVD extras, we called him from London one night. If you've never seen it, please do immediately."
Mike Schank was suffering from cancer
Milwaukee Record revealed that Mike died in his mother's arms on Thursday morning. However, the cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
It should be noted that Schank was diagnosed with cancer in June 2022 and was in its last stage. He shared the news in a Facebook post and wrote:
"I've been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer recently. It started in my esophagus and spread to my liver and lungs and a bunch of other places in my body. It's stage 4 and they can't cure it but they are going to try to get it under control with radiation and chemotherapy."
However, it remains unknown if cancer played any role in his death. But it has been confirmed for now that he was not hospitalized before his death and may have died from other health issues.
Netizens pay tribute on Twitter
Mike Schank gained recognition in recent years for his appearances in films like Hamlet A.D.D., Small Change, Modus Operandi, and more. Even with each passing year, the guitarist continued to be a fan favorite.
However, with the news of his untimely demise, fans and admirers of Schank took to social media to express their sorrow and pay their tributes to the guitarist.
Everything known about Mike Schank
Born on August 3, 1966, in the United States, Mike Schank was a close friend of independent filmmaker Mark Borchardt and assisted Borchardt in making the short film, Coven.
Coven was filmed in black-and-white with local talent from Milwaukee. Although it received mixed reviews, the short film established Mark as an expert filmmaker.
Mike then appeared in the 1999 documentary film American Movie. Directed by Chris Smith, it explored the making of Coven and was released in November 1999. It received positive reviews from critics. Schank played the role of a loyal and laid-back friend and a talented guitarist.
Schank made a cameo in an episode of the Fox adult animated sitcom Family Guy. Additionally, he served as a cameraman in the 2001 comedy-drama film, Storytelling. Schank continued to collaborate with Borchardt on shows like Mark and Mike and hosted a national television special on Halloween night called Night of the Living Dead: Live from Wisconsin.
Before his demise, he celebrated his sobriety of 27 years and posted a tweet that stated that August 3 was his clean and sober birthday in 27 years.
Schank never revealed anything about his personal life and it remains unknown if he was married or dating someone. Detailed information about his career, parents, and educational background is yet to be revealed.
