Who did Mark Withers play in Stranger Things? Prominent TV star dies of cancer aged 77

Mark Withers, who gained recognition for playing Gary in Stranger Things, unexpectedly died on November 22, 2024, at the age of 77. The news was confirmed by his daughter Jessie in a statement shared with Variety on Friday, December 6.

Withers has appeared in various TV shows such as Kaz and Days of Our Lives. He was additionally featured in films like The Ultimate Life.

Mark Withers passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer and while speaking to Variety, Jessie referred to her father by saying that his contributions to the industry would be remembered by everyone, including his colleagues and friends. She further stated:

"He confronted his illness with the same strength and dignity he brought to his craft, creating a legacy of warmth, humor, and dedication, along with his remarkable ability to make every role unforgettable."

According to People magazine, Mark's family has requested everyone to send any kind of donations in his memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Meanwhile, further updates are currently awaited on his funeral date.

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Mark Withers appeared for a brief period in Stranger Things

As mentioned, the Binghamton, New York native already made minor appearances on various shows over the years. The list also includes Stranger Things, which has turned out to be one of the most successful shows on Netflix.

Mark Withers played Gary in the fourth episode of season 1, which aired on July 15, 2016. He was a coroner at the local morgue and a resident of Hawkins, the fictional town where the show's main premise is set. The character did not return in the other three seasons.

The scene where Gary appeared happened in 1983, when Chief Hopper, also known as Jim, called the latter to the police station to inquire why he failed to conduct Will Byers' autopsy. He was further surprised that Will was brought to the office with complete security, and the state police wanted jurisdiction.

The science fiction horror drama was created by the writer-producer duo The Duffer Brothers. The first four seasons contributed to bringing a large amount of viewership for Netflix and the final installment is scheduled to arrive sometime next year.

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Mark Withers was featured in various TV shows throughout his career

Also known as Mark Fred Withers, he played minor roles in different projects over the years. A report by Daily Mail states that he was an athlete before joining the film and TV industry. He even received a football scholarship to Penn State.

Mark Withers' resume on the official website of Actors Access stated that he was an expert in other skills like stunt fighting and stage combat. He even played other games such as volleyball and badminton, and could play rhythm guitar.

Furthermore, Mark trained himself in skills like scene study by joining various workshops and working at places such as Pasadena Playhouse and Minnesota State University. Before venturing into films and television, Mark was a part of a theatre, where he mostly appeared as a lead in plays like Someone Who'll Watch Over Me and A Chip in the Sugar.

Withers made his debut in 1978 with How the West Was Won. He appeared as Peter Colcourt for a year in Kaz and Ted Dinard in Dynasty. He continued playing minor roles in shows such as The Dukes of Hazzard, The Hugga Bunch, Criminal Minds, True Blood, and Sense8.

Apart from his daughter Jessie, Mark Withers' survivors include his wife Haiyan Liu Withers.