Mark Jones obit

Mark Jones, ‘Leprechaun’ and ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ Director, Dies at 72

 He was not on the list.

Mark Jones, a veteran animation writer and the director of B-horror comedy classics like “Leprechaun” and “Rumpelstiltskin,” died on Jan. 16 in Los Angeles after a brief stay at West Hills Hospital. He was 72.

George Saadi, a friend and collaborator of Jones’, confirmed his death to Variety. His 73rd birthday was Saturday, Jan. 17, and he missed the date by only a few hours.

Jones was best known for writing and directing the 1992 cult classic “Leprechaun,” starring Jennifer Aniston and Warwick Davis. The film spawned seven sequels. “Leprechaun Returns,” the most recent installment, was released in 2018. His other notable credits include 1995’s “Rumpelstiltskin,” a feature-length retelling of the classic fairytale, and 1997’s “NightMan,” a made-for-TV movie about a musician who is struck by lightning and gains the power to hear the frequency of evil.

Jones got his start working on Saturday morning cartoons. He sold his first script to Filmation Studios before landing at DePatie Freleng, where he wrote “Mister Magoo” and “Pink Panther.” He then moved to legendary animation house Hanna-Barbera, where he wrote and story edited for shows like “Super Friends” and several “Scooby Doo” projects.

Some of his other notable animation writing credits include “Fangface,” “Yogi’s Space Race,” “Plastic Man,” “Heathcliff” and “Mister T.”

Jones also worked on several live-action series through the ‘80s and early ‘90s. These included “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo,” “Riptide,” “The A-Team,” “The Fall Guy” and “Superboy.” His most recent feature directing credits include 2013’s “Scorned,” 2008’s “Triloquist” and 2004’s “Quiet Kill.”

A private memorial service for Jones is planned for the near future.

 

Film

Year     Title     Director           Writer  Producer          Actor   Role

1993    Leprechaun     Yes      Yes                             

1994    Leprechaun 2                          Yes                 

1995    Rumpelstiltskin            Yes      Yes                             

2004    Quiet Kill        Yes                                         

2008    Triloquist         Yes      Yes      Yes      Yes      Goofy Guy

2013    Scorned           Yes      Yes                  Yes      Cop Holding Bootsie

Television

Year     Title     Director           Writer  Story

editor   Producer          Network          Notes

1976    Ark II              Yes                              CBS    Episode: "The Tank"

1977    The Skatebirds                        Stories                         Unknown episodes

1977    Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels                      Yes                              ABC    Unknown episodes

1977    The All-New Super Friends Hour                   Yes                              2 episodes

1977    What's New, Mr. Magoo?                   Yes                              CBS    16 episodes

1978    Scooby's Laff-A Lympics                    Stories                         ABC    Unknown episodes

1978    Yogi's Space Race                   Stories                         NBC    Unknown episodes

1978    The All-New Popeye Hour                 Stories                         CBS    Unknown episodes

1978    Fangface                      Yes                              ABC    Episode: "A Heap of Trouble"

1978    Buford and the Galloping Ghost                     Stories                         NBC    Unknown episodes

1978    Dinky Dog                  Stories                         CBS    16 episodes

1979–1980      The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show               Stories Yes                  ABC    Unknown episodes

1980–1981      The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo               Yes      Yes                  story editor (10 episodes)

writer (9 episodes)

 

1981    Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo                       Stories                         Unknown episodes

1981    Heathcliff                    Stories                         ABC    Unknown episodes

1981–1982      The Fall Guy               Yes                              3 episodes

1982    The Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Puppy Hour               Stories Executive                    Unknown episodes

1983    The Powers of Matthew Star              Yes                              NBC    Episode: "The Road Rebels"

1983    The Puppy's Further Adventures                     Yes      Executive        Yes      ABC    Unknown episodes

1983    Mister T                      Yes                              NBC    Episode: "Mystery of the Golden Medallion"

1983    Saturday Supercade                Story                            CBS    Episode: "The Incredible Shrinking Ape"

1983    Rubik, the Amazing Cube                  Story    Executive        Yes      ABC    Story editor and producer (episode: "Super Power Lisa")

Story (episode: "Honolulu Rubik")

 

1983–1984      The Rousters               Yes                              NBC    4 episodes

1984    Riptide             Yes      Yes                  NBC    9 episodes (story editor)

3 episodes (written by)

1984    Turbo Teen                  Yes                              ABC    Episode: "Turbo Thieves"

1984–1985      The A-Team                Yes      Yes                  NBC    24 episodes (story editor)

8 episodes (written by)

1985    Hunter             Yes                              2 episodes

1985    Misfits of Science                   Yes                              Episode: "Lost Link"

1985–1986      Knight Rider                                       Yes      3 episodes

1987    A.L.F.              Yes                              Episode: "Two for the Brig"

1987    Werewolf                     Yes                              FOX    2 episodes

1988    The Highwayman                   Yes                  Yes      NBC    writer (episode: "Summer of '45")

producer (Unknown episodes)

 

1988    Police Academy                      Yes                              Syndicated       Episode: "Cops and Robots"

1988    The Road Raiders                   Yes                              unknown         Television film

1989–1990      Superboy                     Yes      Executive                    Syndicated       4 episodes

1991    James Bond Jr.                        Yes      Yes                  2 episodes

1993    Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa                       Yes                              ABC    3 episodes

1994    High Tide                                            Yes      Syndicated       Unknown episodes

1994–1995      Mega Man                   Yes                              2 episodes

1995    Skysurfer Strike Force                        Yes      Yes                  3 episodes

1997–1998      NightMan        Yes      Yes                              director (3 episodes)

writer (episode: "Nightwoman")

 

2016    Nature Yes                              Yes      Discovery Channel     Episode: "Natural Born Hustlers: The Hunger Hustlers"