Mark Thompson (DJ) explained

Mark Thompson
Birth Name:Mark LaMarr Thompson
Birth Date:1 December 1955
Birth Place:Florence, Alabama
Spouse:Lynda
Children:3
Occupation:Radio personality, actor

Mark LaMarr Thompson (born December 1, 1955) is an American radio personality (disc jockey) and occasional actor, best known for the nationally syndicated Mark & Brian morning show.

Early life

After attending the University of North Alabama, Thompson worked as a disc jockey at several stations in the southern United States (including WHHY AM 1440 in Montgomery, Alabama) before meeting his partner Brian Phelps in Birmingham, Alabama in 1986. The next year the duo moved their show to KLOS-FM in Los Angeles, where they remained until the show's end in 2012. Thompson's wife, Lynda, their three children (Matthew, Amy and Katie), his nephew David, and his niece Nina are well-known among regular listeners of the program. Thompson plays drums and is a huge Elvis Presley fan. He and Brian both garnered a 1991 National Association of Broadcasters Marconi Award as "Air Personalities of the Year."

Career

The popularity of The Mark & Brian Show gave Thompson several opportunities to branch out into other entertainment media. In 1991-92, he and Phelps hosted a short-lived NBC TV series, The Adventures of Mark & Brian, based on their radio show.[1] [2] Thompson has also appeared in several motion pictures, notably (the 1993 ninth installment in the Friday the 13th series) and The Princess Diaries (2001). He also wrote & starred in the 2002 independent film, Mother Ghost, and briefly appeared as a love interest (coincidentally named Brian) of Reba McEntire's character on three episodes in the 2002-2003 season of the Reba television show.

On June 13, 2012, Thompson announced that he would be retiring from radio after 25 years and would move to Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife, mentioning that his new home would be equipped with a studio that would allow him to do occasional media work. His last day at KLOS was August 17, 2012.[3] Thompson and his wife now host The Mark & Lynda Podcast, which focuses primarily on relationship issues.[4] In addition, Thompson co-hosted the Pro Football Slam podcast with Los Angeles Times journalist Sam Farmer[5] during the 2013-2014 football season. That podcast did not return for the 2014-2015 season. He also began hosting the Cool Stories in Music podcast in December 2013.[6] According to Thompson, the podcast is inspired by the biographies, stories, and chart trivia segments of the Kasem-era American Top 40 radio program.[7]

On December 8, 2014, Thompson announced on his podcast he would be returning to morning radio in Los Angeles and that he would be doing morning drive from his home studio in North Carolina. The Mark and Lynda podcast will continue, but will be shifted later in the day and will be shorter. He also announced that Cool Stories in Music will be syndicated on Sunday on the same radio station.

Thompson began hosting a radio show, "Mark in the Morning" which started on February 2, 2015 on rival classic rock station 100.3 KSWD The Sound in Los Angeles. His on-air talent includes Andy Chanley, Gina Grad, and his daughter, Katie Thompson, as "Chick on the Street". Daniel Mizrahi is the only staff member he brought over from his time at KLOS. Mark was eventually let go from his position due to low ratings, and exited KSWD on August 3, 2016, and plans to launch a syndicated radio program, "Cool Stories in Music."[8]

On August 17, 2020 The Radio Hall of Fame has announced its list of inductees for its 2020 class. Longtime 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles morning hosts Mark Thompson and Brian Phelps (Longstanding Local/Regional). https://www.radiohalloffame.com/2020-inductees

In September 2022, Thompson released his memoir, Don't Bump the Record, Kid: My Adventures With Mark and Brian' and appeared at various events on his book tour.[9] [10] [11]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1990Rocky VReporter
1993Officer Mark
1997TrekkiesHimself
2001The Princess DiariesDJ Mark
2002Mother GhostKeith Bennett
2007Totally BakedSecret Service Agent #2
2008HelpDr. SinaShort film
2009Russell Spivey
2018The Assassin's CodeCaptain Jack O'Brian

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Crime StoryPilot #1Episode: "Going Home"
1989Married... with ChildrenCatererEpisode: "Married... with Prom Queen: The Sequel"
Stuck with Each OtherAssistant Hotel ManagerTelevision film
1990CheersBar PatronEpisode: "Veggie-Boyd"
1991–1992The Adventures of Mark & BrianHimself13 episodes
1992Ring of the MusketeersTV AnnouncerTelevision film
1993Quantum LeapDiner GuyEpisode: "Memphis Melody - July 3, 1954"
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.Mayor DixEpisode: "Mail Order Brides"
1995Ned and StaceyGaryEpisode: "Threesomes"
1997Perversions of ScienceSoldierEpisode: "Boxed In"
1998Dharma & GregGuy #2Episode: "Invasion of the Buddy Snatcher"
Party of FiveAnnouncer (voice)Episode: "A Family Album"
1999Odd Man OutHimselfEpisode: "Fight Club"
2002–2003RebaBrian3 episodes
2004–2020Reno 911!Reverend Gigg LeCarp3 episodes
2007Ben 10Vance Vetteroy (voice)Episode: "Monster Weather"
2007–2012Phineas and FerbAnnouncer Dave/Radio DJ (voice)3 episodes
2008DirtEntertainment Anchor #2Episode: "Dirty, Slutty Whores"
MadTVHimselfEpisode: "14.1"
2008–2009Hole in the WallHost18 episodes
2010Criminal MindsDJ BrianEpisode: "Our Darkest Hour"
2014Fish HooksRadio Announcer (voice)Episode: "Algae Day/Bea Saves a Tree"
2018Black LightningRandyEpisode: "And Then the Devil Brought the Plague: The Book of Green Light"
StarDoctorEpisode: "Mrs. Rivera"

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20090328114000/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315489,00.html The 1991 Fall TV Preview: Sunday
  2. https://archive.today/20130122141054/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,315372,00.html The Adventures of Mark and Brian
  3. http://www.radio-info.com/news/mark-brian-show-ends-25-years-at-klos-la-with-retirement-of-mark-thompson ""Mark & Brian Show" ends 25 years at KLOS, LA, with retirement of Mark Thompson"
  4. http://www.markandlynda.us/ The Mark & Lynda Podcast
  5. http://www.profootballslam.com/about/ Pro Football Slam
  6. http://www.coolstoriesinmusic.com/ Cool Stories in Music: A Show about the Stories You Haven't Heard
  7. http://www.coolstoriesinmusic.com/?powerpress_pinw=5-podcast Cool Stories in Music: Pre-Launch Teaser
  8. Web site: Mark In The Morning -Announcement. Facebook. 2 August 2016.
  9. Web site: 2022-12-01 . 'Mark and Brian Show' DJ Mark Thompson revisits the KLOS-FM years in new book . 2022-12-07 . Daily News . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2022-12-05 . Radio host Mark Thompson 'digs through the clutter' of his life for his memoir 'Don't Bump the Record, Kid' . 2022-12-07 . KTLA . en-US.
  11. Web site: Celebrated DJ Mark Thompson's memoir doesn't miss a beat . 2022-12-07 . finance.yahoo.com . 13 November 2022 . en-US.