Mark Durbin

Birthday: 28 April 1960, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

Birth Name: Mark Anthony Durbin

Height: 185 cm

Born Mark Anthony Durbin in Washington, D.C. Married to professional ballet dancer Nicole Harlan whom he met in 1995 while she was doing the role of Helena in the ballet, 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles. He has three children with her. He has led a colorful life. He grew up working tobacco farms in Maryland. Thinking he was interested in the theater, Mark left Maryland and headed South to see Stacy Keach in a production of Barnum in New Orleans. Mark ended up living there for a while on St. Anne's just off Bourbon St. in the Quarter. He then headed to Florida to try to enter Burt Reynolds theater in Jupiter. After that he headed to the Florida Keys because he heard Tennessee Williams had a school there. He ended up working on various boats giving tours in Key West at sunset and even volunteered help looking for the wreck of the Atocha with Mel Fisher, which was actually discovered a few years later loaded with treasure. He also worked on scuba boats and shrimp trawlers. While walking to the docks one day he was spotted by Frank Romano, the then owner of Key West Aloe, a pioneer in the Aloe Vera industry. He was asked to do a modeling campaign for them. He did their line of advertising internationally, then continued to model in New York and Italy doing runway and appearing in various magazines such as GQ and Italian Uomo. Mark later graduated from the University of Maryland where he studied business, agriculture and theatre. He also was a walk-on for the football team, having never played in high school. He then went back to New York and later Los Angeles where he studied with the late Peggy Feury and Stella Adler. He also studied voice with famous old time radio show actress Lurene Tuttle before she passed away. He worked various interesting jobs while starting out as an actor including a stint as a bodyguard for Elton John whom he has said is one of the nicest and most generous people around. He once performed a small part in Petrouchka with the Joffrey ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion. He has worked internationally acting in TV commercials for more than 20 years. He has appeared in commercials alongside actresses such as Meg Ryan and Kelly LeBrock and models Christy Turlington, Iman, Rebecca Broussard and Mitzi Martin. He has also worked with directors such as Clint Eastwood, Edward Burns, Marek Kanievska, Leslie Dektor and Paul Giraud. Show less «

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] I think it was more of an ego thing. I was re...Show more »

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] I think it was more of an ego thing. I was rehearsing a scene with a girl he was trying to "date" and I think he was afraid I'd beat him to it. He was a bully. I watched him pick on a lot of insecure and vulnerable actors and take the joy out of the craft for them. He was shameful in his methods. Show less «

I love doing live theater. There is an incredible electricity with a live audience. I hope to have a...Show more »

I love doing live theater. There is an incredible electricity with a live audience. I hope to have a career that affords me the recognition to be a respected stage actor. Ideally I would like to do movies and then theater in between. I would love to continue to be able to do theater until the end of my life. Show less «

I got to actually deliver my second child; my daughter Sawyer. To share the experience of what a wom...Show more »

I got to actually deliver my second child; my daughter Sawyer. To share the experience of what a woman goes through to bring this miracle of life into the world is amazing enough, but to actually take and hand your child to her with the umbilical cord still attached, that is an experience I never thought I would get to have. Show less «

I would have liked to do more in television and film over the years. Early on I turned down soaps an...Show more »

I would have liked to do more in television and film over the years. Early on I turned down soaps and some TV things because I had my sights set on doing movies. Years ago I was introduced to a commercial agent and started getting work right away. I enjoyed it. It was very blue collar. Just drink the beer, kiss the girl, shut up, go home and collect your residuals. Directors liked working with me. Doing commercials has allowed me to travel this country and Europe. I have been able to buy a comfortable house, and make a living as an actor. I have done precision driving, worked extensively with helicopters, horses, boats, etc. I could probably direct a Bond movie with all the experience I've had. Show less «

I saw Robert Morse perform Tru at the Henry Fonda theatre and went back to see it several times. I m...Show more »

I saw Robert Morse perform Tru at the Henry Fonda theatre and went back to see it several times. I met with him backstage. He was quite a gentleman. He is an incredible actor and I was astonished by his transformation. His technique was impeccable. I felt like I was actually seeing Truman Capote onstage. I also saw Laurence Fishburne do Two Trains Running by August Wilson and John Malkovich do Burn This by Lanford Wilson at the Mark Taper Forum. Those are three performances I will never forget. Show less «

My wife and my children are the most beautiful things that have happened to me. They have opened my ...Show more »

My wife and my children are the most beautiful things that have happened to me. They have opened my eyes and my heart. Show less «

A lot of my friends had done one episode of every TV show on the air. It got them nowhere. After you...Show more »

A lot of my friends had done one episode of every TV show on the air. It got them nowhere. After you ran that gamut there was nothing left to do. You weren't going to get a lead on those shows. I tried to get in on leads. It was hard to bring myself to go in on three lines when I had $150,000 in residuals for Class A commercials waiting in my mailbox and a pension. Show less «

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] For the short time I was in that class, peopl...Show more »

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] For the short time I was in that class, people spent more time talking about "ethics" than rehearsing. They could quote the Katselas bible but few of them could manage to get together to rehearse. Of course with hundreds of acting teachers in town and a million people trying to act, it only makes sense that each teacher will eventually have six people that go on to be names. It doesn't necessarily mean they're a good teacher or they got them there. For the six that have their name linked to that studio, there are hundreds who never went anywhere. Plus when you are coerced into looking at, and encouraged to buy, the teacher's 'artwork' and you aren't attracted to paint slapped on an old board it makes for a very awkward critique the next day. Show less «

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] There are a lot of guys in this town who, out...Show more »

[referring to an article about Milton Katselas studio] There are a lot of guys in this town who, out of desperation and insecurity, have given up their right to be men. When I take an acting class, I take it to study technique, not to be told how to think and live. Many people are successful as actors and failures at life. It was strange, people wanted to talk to me about leaving like I had somehow escaped the compound when all I really did was extricate myself from some silly class. Show less «

(In reference to the KTLA Weather person Audition) My wife's sister sent my picture in and I didn't ...Show more »

(In reference to the KTLA Weather person Audition) My wife's sister sent my picture in and I didn't think much of it. Once I was called to do it, it became real for me. I began thinking in terms of providing for my children. I took it very seriously. I had thought we were going to have some crash course in weather and journalism but we were completely on our own. I studied for it like I was preparing an acting role. I studied weather for hours every day; watching every weather person I could and taping them to study their delivery, etc. My brother also has his pilot's license so I spoke with him a lot about different weather phenomena. It was quite a challenge and a great experience but ultimately I don't know if it would have been right for me. I enjoy the stimulation of new adventures and acting allows me to always be doing something new. Show less «

(Regarding his years as a walk-on at Univ. of Md. football) I was there with guys like Boomer Esiaso...Show more »

(Regarding his years as a walk-on at Univ. of Md. football) I was there with guys like Boomer Esiason and Peter Koch. Really great players. I was basically a human blocking dummy. I had no real experience but I gave it my all. I was determined to prove to myself I could stick something out no matter how hard. I needed that at the time. I still have nightmares about two-a-day Summer practices. Show less «

I've always enjoyed being an actor and the pursuit of it. It is not without it's own peculiar challe...Show more »

I've always enjoyed being an actor and the pursuit of it. It is not without it's own peculiar challenges and difficulties, but it is very rewarding. When I was younger, great literature spoke to me and excited my creativity. I could hardly sleep at night thinking about the things I wanted to accomplish in life. And when I saw great actors bring it to life or had the opportunity to speak with them and learn, I felt thrilled. Show less «

I used to hear this thing about men wanting to have a son to carry on the family name. It never mean...Show more »

I used to hear this thing about men wanting to have a son to carry on the family name. It never meant much to me. However, having my son first, I now understand. There is a special bond between a father and son. When I watch him try to dress like me and copy everything I do, it is then that I realized the importance of being a responsible father and being vigilant about how and what I teach him. Children start out pure. Pure angels. The challenge is to keep on that way. Show less «

My wife, Nicole, is my hero. She is the most incredible mother a child could have. Our children are ...Show more »

My wife, Nicole, is my hero. She is the most incredible mother a child could have. Our children are very lucky. Show less «

Mark Durbin

Mark Durbin's FILMOGRAPHY

Mark Durbin'S roles

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