Mark Harris (husband)

Infobox Actor


name = Mark Harris
birthname = Mark Harris Bleefeld
birthdate = birth date and age|1949|2|1
location = Brooklyn, New York
spouse = Martha Raye (1991-1994)

Mark Harris was the last husband of and widower of comedienne Martha Raye. Their marriage, which took place in Las Vegas in 1991, was the subject of much tabloid coverage at the time, partly because Martha was 75 and Mark was 42, and partly because the two had known each other for less than one month. They remained married until Raye's death in 1994.

Harris has appeared on the Howard Stern radio show, the Mancow's Morning Madness radio show, and the Larry King television show, for which he was interviewed by Martha Raye fan Nancy Grace. During these appearances he typically discusses diverse topics including his life with Martha Raye, his homosexual relationships, his experiences as a homosexual/bisexual parent raising a teenaged daughter, his patriotisim, his Republican politics, and his various show business projects.

Harris, a singer, is particularly enamored of old Hollywood and Broadway shows of the 1940s and 1950s. He has recorded CDs featuring music from this era, and these songs are a major part of his nightclub act. His nightclub appearances have included Caroline's in Manhattan and the Gardenia Room in Los Angeles. He is also known for recording musical parodies lampooning the subjects of Hollywood gossip, and songs with a patriotic flavor.

Harris received the bulk of Martha Raye's estate, including her home in Bel Air, California. Raye's will left nothing to her only daughter from a previous marriage, Melodye Condos, from whom Raye was estranged at the time of her death.

In an appearance on the Howard Stern Radio Show on April 23, 2008, Harris said that he had suffered two recent heart attacks. He also revealed that he is now living in New York with one of his daughters.

He is currently working on developing a call-in radio talk show.

External links

* [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0411/26/lkl.01.html Larry King interview with Mark Harris]
* [http://akamarkharris.com Official Website]