Steve Mensch, President and General Operations Manager of Tyler Perry Studios, died on Friday (Dec. 6) at age 62. He was killed in a plane crash in Florida.
The crash occurred in Homosassa, which is roughly 60 miles north of Tampa. Mensch was pronounced dead at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration along with the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the crash.
Tyler Perry penned a tribute to Mensch on Saturday via Instagram. “This time of year, grief meets me like an unwanted visitor, as tomorrow marks 15 years since the loss of my mother. It feels especially harder because I have lost so many friends and mentors this year, ranging in age from as young as 40 to 92. And today, yet another loss,” he began.
The entertainment mogul continued, “I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day — what went wrong with that plane. Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. Steve Mensch was truly a kind soul and a great leader at the studio. We all adored him and are devastated that he’s gone. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak.”
Perry concluded the post, adding, “Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love AND TELL THEM!”
Tyler Perry Studios also issued a statement following Mensch’s tragic death. “We are incredibly saddened by the passing of our dear friend, Steve Mensch,” it read. “Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than eight years and well-beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
Mensch had been with Tyler Perry Studios since 2016 and helped oversee its 2019 transition into a 330-acre production lot. He managed daily operations, became a prominent figure in Georgia, and served on the Board of Governors of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce all after becoming president. According to his LinkedIn, he was also a founding member and chair of the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition.
Prior to his tenure at Tyler Perry Studios, Mensch served as president of Third Rail Studios and served as Director of Studio and Location Operations and Strategic Production Partnerships at Turner Broadcasting for nine years. He is survived by his wife and three children.
VIBE sends our deepest condolences to all those affected by this loss.
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