Guy Marks was a talented actor, comedian, singer and impressionist who entertained audiences with his remarkable mimicry skills. He could imitate celebrities, animals, objects and even sounds with ease and humor. He appeared on many TV shows and had a hit song called “Loving You Has Made Me Bananas”. But how did he die and what was his legacy? Here is a brief overview of Guy Marks’ cause of death and his career highlights.
Early Life and Career
Guy Marks was born Mario Scarpa on October 31, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of 11 children of Italian immigrants. His father was a clarinetist with the RCA recording orchestra and named his children after opera characters. Mario was named after the hero in La Tosca, an opera his mother admired.
Marks showed an interest in comedy and impressions from an early age. He often imitated his teachers and ran away from home to work odd jobs. He enlisted in the US Army in 1940 and later joined the Merchant Marine, sailing around the world. He got into show business by accident, when his friends pushed him onto the stage at a nightclub in South Philadelphia, where he did impressions of W.C. Fields, Wendell Willkie and The Ink Spots.
He moved to New York and tried to make it as a comedian, working with various partners and doing solo acts. He found success in the nightclub circuit, opening for stars like Eddie Fisher and Sammy Davis Jr. He also worked in Las Vegas and became a regular guest on TV variety shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Joey Bishop Show. He was known for his impressions of Humphrey Bogart, Gary Cooper, Boris Karloff, and many others, as well as his ability to imitate a housefly, a neon sign, an alligator, a rubber band, a frozen chicken, a frog, a praying mantis, and an ostrich.
TV and Film Roles
Marks also ventured into acting, appearing on several TV sitcoms and films. He was a regular on The Joey Bishop Show as Freddie, The John Forsythe Show as Ed Robbins, and You Again? as Harry. He also starred in a short-lived comedy series with Tim Conway, Rango, as Pink Cloud, a sarcastic Indian sidekick. He had small roles in the films Peeper and Train Ride to Hollywood, both as a Humphrey Bogart look-alike.
Marks also composed and performed a novelty song called “Loving You Has Made Me Bananas”, which became a hit in the 1970s. The song was a parody of old-fashioned love songs, with absurd lyrics and a catchy tune. He performed the song on several TV shows and released it as a single and an album.
Guy Marks Cause of Death
Marks died of pneumonia as a complication of lung cancer at a hospital near his residence in Brigantine, New Jersey, a suburb of Atlantic City, on November 28, 1987. He was 64 years old. He was survived by two brothers and five sisters. He had been married and divorced several times and had no children.
According to IMDb, at the time of his death he had completed a TV series pilot with Sid Caesar, which was never picked up. His talents can be seen on the video release of the “Dean Martin Roasts”. He is remembered as a versatile and hilarious entertainer who could make anyone laugh with his impressions.
Conclusion
Guy Marks was a legendary impressionist who could imitate anything and anyone. He had a successful career as a comedian, actor, singer and songwriter. He died of pneumonia and lung cancer in 1987, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and joy. He was one of the best in the business and a true original.
