Mark Withers, star of “Kaz” and “Dynasty”, dies at 77

Mark Withers, the prolific TV actor with notable roles in series like Dynasty and Kaz, has died.

Jessie Withers, the actor's daughter, confirmed his passing to Entertainment Weekly, writing, "Mark Fred Withers, a versatile actor whose extensive roles in television, film, and theater, passed away at the age of 77 on Friday, November 22, 2024, after a valiant two-year battle with pancreatic cancer."

Withers was born in Binghampton, N.Y., in 1947. He pursued football on a scholarship at Penn State before setting out for the West Coast to try his luck in Hollywood. A national campaign for McDonald's eventually led to small parts on series like Wonder Woman and How the West Was Won, as well as made-for-TV movies like the 1978 presidential assassination comedy Wild and Wooly, costarring Vic Morrow and Jessica Walter.

His big break came in the form of Peter Colcourt, the character he was offered on the popular but short-lived courtroom procedural Kaz. Withers appeared in each of Kaz's 22 episodes and rebounded shortly after its cancellation in 1979 with one of the roles he'd be remembered for throughout the rest of his career.

Related: Celebrity deaths 2024: Remembering the stars we've lost this year

Withers appeared in only six episodes of the first season of the ABC soap sensation Dynasty, but his storyline broke major ground in the fight for expanded screen representation.

He played Ted Dinard, the secret lover of Al Corley's Steven Carrington, son of the wealthy oil magnate Blake Carrington (series lead John Forsythe). The out and proud Ted comes to visit Steven midway through season 1, and provides a fascinating contrast to Steven's reluctance to embrace his sexuality, primarily out of fear of his father's reprisal.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

After Blake witnesses Ted and Steven hug after an amicable breakup, he attacks Ted in a homophobic rage, causing him to hit his head and die. Ted's very appearance on the show was largely unprecedented for the TV landscape of the time, and his fearless performance continues to be noted in the annals of queer media history.

In a 2018 interview, Withers reflected on the role, saying that for the time, "not only was it very unusual, but it really broke a lot of barriers," something he was "proud" to have a hand in that, in hindsight, "was very, very, very, very, like 30 years, 40 years ahead of its time."

Withers continued to take on single-episode spots on TV series like Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, Matlock, and Criminal Minds. He also appeared in the recurring role of Coach Locke on Days of Our Lives, Morris on the sixth season of True Blood, and most recently Lawrence in the Wachowskis' Sense8.

Related: Thom Christopher, memorable One Life to Live villain, dies at 84

Withers' daughter Jessie wrote that her father "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. Mark’s enduring talent and commitment to the industry will be fondly remembered by colleagues, friends, and fans alike."

The actor is survived by daughter Jessie and wife Haiyan Liu Withers. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly