Mark York, renowned for his performance in NBC’s “The Office” has died. The 55-year-old actor died after a brief illness on May 19, in the Miami Valley Hospital in Ohio. His death was confirmed by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, although the exact cause of death was not revealed.
Back in 1988, York was part of a car accident that left his legs paralyzed. Despite his inability to walk, the actor was never dissuaded. He went on to pursue a career in acting, after graduating with degrees in sociology, psychology, and social work from Anderson University in Indiana.
His disability at the age of 23 did not hamper his “positive attitude” in life. Not only was Mark York optimistic about life, but also had a “competitive spirit that kept his family laughing throughout their time together,” read an obituary from his hometown. He will be missed immensely by all those people who had the chance to be a part of his journey, including his fans across the globe.
Mark York’s most recent and notable work was his role in the comedy show, “The Office.” He appeared as Billy Merchant in Season 2, when Michael Scott, played by the legendary Steve Carell, held a disability awareness meeting.
The merchant is invited as a guest, who does the role of a property owner of the building. He takes his real-life character onto the screen and speaks about his disability in the show. “I’ve actually used a chair since I was 4 years old. I don’t really notice it anymore,” said Merchant in his introduction episode.
Before landing a role on “The Office,” Mark York had been a part of several other shows and movies, including Steven Spielberg’s 2001 movie “Artificial Intelligence” and “CSI: New York.” He also acted in a few advertisements for State Farm, Verizon, and AARP.
According to his obituary, York had an inherent love for the film industry. With his impeccable memory, he “could quote so many lines from movies and tell you who particular actors were in most movies.” He had the pleasure to spend his key years in California, where he got wonderful opportunities to pursue his passion for acting and put his talent out there for the world to see.
Mark York is survived by his parents and three brothers. His funeral and other visitations took place on Saturday, in Ohio.
