May Program: A Special Evening with Hollywood/Broadway Actor Mark Zimmerman

By: Dylan Bowman, HAHS Board Member

May 28, 2025

Halifaxians look on as Mark Zimmerman stuns the crowd with a Broadway tune. Photograph by Dylan Bowman.

From Halifax to Hollywood

They say that talent can come from anywhere. I have always believed that wholeheartedly, as some of the greatest and most famous individuals ever known came from places that most people would never expect greatness to rise from.

The other night, Halifax had one of theirs come home who has been through fame and seen the lights of Broadway.

Meet Mark Zimmerman. Hollywood and Broadway actor.

Mark grew up in Halifax and always had a burning passion for theatre. His mother pushed him to pursue that passion, even after a family tragedy rocked the family in 1965 with the passing of Mark's year-old brother, Gary, who had been killed in an airplane accident as an Air Force Academy cadet.

For a time, Mark said he felt that he should honor his brother's memory by pursuing what his brother had desired to fulfill in his life: becoming an Air Force pilot by joining the NROTC program at Penn and getting his law degree. It wasn't until some time later while playing parts on stage in Halifax school plays that Mark came to the realization...he felt at peace...and like himself...during those times. He decided to "follow his heart" and move down a path of acting.

One that would change his life forever.

Halifaxians look on as Mark Zimmerman presents his time in Hollywood and on Boradway. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.

The Broadway/Hollywood Chronicles

Mark's time in Hollywood and Broadway began as a stage actor in many local plays and parts, including some with the Twin Valley Players and and the summer stock seasons at the LaSalle Music Theatre. Later, when attending college, he saw a flyer from the Mask & Wig Club on a tree in the College Green calling for actors, singers and dancers. He took the opportunity, and it led to many more chances for him to follow his heart.

After one of his club shows, a guest director from New York pulled him aside and told him that they had an upcoming production of West Side Story in the works in New York City for a dinner theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina, and that Mark "would make a good Tony," referring to the character from the play. Mark, who had just graduated college at the time, accepted the invitation.

Playing in West Side Story would launch his professional acting career. It was also there that he began seeing the girl who played Maria, and they eventually moved to New York City together.

"Moving to New York; that was the easy part," Zimmerman said. "The hard part was finding a way to sustain myself while trying to land a theatre job."

So he wouldn't have to become a waiter (as many aspiring actors in New York do), he instead convinced the producer at the dinner theatre that they needed a production coordinator. The producer gave him the roll, where he was responsible for sending out casting notices, the payment of costumes and paying the actors when the time came.

However, he became so good at his job he nearly sabotaged himself from becoming an actor...producers everywhere wanted to hire him for his work as a production coordinator. But he kept following his heart and in 1976, he was able to join Actors' Equity, a theatrical union for stage actors. Shortly after, when making his debut on Broadway, he was cast in the summer stock theatre of Shenandoah, with John Cullum. During a practice session of one of their numbers, John Cullum accidentally bumped into Zimmerman, causing him to tumble from his crouching position with the rest of the soldier actors. After the show, Zimmerman tried to apologize to Cullum, but Cullum said:

"Don’t worry, Mark. We tried to defy a law of physics. We can’t occupy the same space at the same time."

Over the years, Zimmerman worked several more Broadway plays before getting onto the screen. He started out acting in a large handful of commercials, some of which hosted famous individuals such as Robert De Niro (The Godfather Pt. II, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver) and Donald Trump (who needs no introduction)!

In this 1988 Mike Tyson Pepsi Commercial, Mark Zimmerman can be seen as one of Donald Trump's advisors/secret service agents walking in front of him through the crowd. He can be seen best at the very beginning of the video with a clean-shaven head, glasses and carrying a clipboard and a few seconds later over Trump's shoulder in the background when Trump turns and says "That's right."

Zimmerman also found himself eventually on the big screen, playing parts in both TV shows including "FBI: Most Wanted," the "Law & Order" TV saga, "C.P.W," and "Person of Interest" as well as films including "Dash and Lily," "Delivery Man," "For Love or Money," (1993) starring Michael J. Fox (whom he talks to in the film as Chuck the pilot!) and "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1999) starring Pierce Brosnan. See his full Hollywood works listing here.

In this clip from "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1999), Mark Zimmerman is the gentleman lighting a cigar at the table and watching Pierce Brosnan sign the contract. He is clearly seen on the left in the video thumbnail image above.

"Follow Your Heart."

When it came to attendance, the program turned out to be a new record-setter. Approximately 85 individuals turned out to hear the incredible life story of Mark and meet the man who had gone on from Halifax to Hollywood and Broadway. The energy within the walls of the Messiah Lutheran Church in Fisherville was potent, and that true sense of community that I myself (as well as many others I am certain) envy as a rarity in these times could be felt throughout the presentation's aftermath.

Community members talked and reminisced with Zimmerman and one another, asking about the Society's operations and enjoying a vast assortment of refreshments. It was a homecoming party if I ever saw one.

In all of the evening's festivities, there was one particular phrase that stuck out to me..."Follow Your Heart."

Isn't that what we should do? If our compass is straight and our due North found, should we not let that God-given conscience and determination drive us forward to new heights and into new adventures? I believe so. And it is in this that I also believe we as a community can stand together on. By following our hearts to do good and be the best that we can be in every aspect of our lives, we will make history so beautiful and lasting that someday...maybe...they will make movies and write plays about it.

Visitors enjoy one another's company and talk with presenter, Mark Zimmerman. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.

We at the Halifax Area Historical Society would like to again thank Mark Zimmerman for such a special evening and his time in sharing that evening with us. It was truly one to remember!

If you are interested in our upcoming programs or events or would like to get involved, please reach out to us at our email halifax.pa.history@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you!

Visitors enjoy one another's company after Mark Zimmerman's presentation. Photographs by Dylan Bowman.