Broadway casting director Mark B. Simon passed away July 16 at the age of 70. The news was confirmed by Broadway press agent Adrian Bryan-Brown.

Born May 26, 1953, in Providence, Rhode Island, Simon was a lifelong fan of the theatre. After attending college at Harvard University and NYU, Simon joined the industry as an assistant general manager for Manhattan Theatre Club, later working at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and the Off-Off-Broadway Alliance.

Simon made his Broadway debut as a producer of the 1986 revival of Joe Orton's Loot starring Joseph Maher, Zoë Wanamaker, Zeljko Ivanek, and Alec Baldwin. The production originated with MTC Off-Broadway with Kevin Bacon in Baldwin's role, and ultimately earned five 1986 Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival.

He next turned his attentions to casting, working with Johnson/Liff & Associates, Binder Casting, and Livent before forming Mark Simon Casting. Among his Broadway casting credits were Barrymore, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Parade, Sweet Smell of Success, Hollywood Arms, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life, Lovemusik, and 13. Simon was an Artios Award winner for a Los Angeles production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (with Daniel Swee).

Simon spent the end of his career in Los Angeles serving as casting director for Center Theatre Group, where he stayed until retiring. He was eventually a resident of The Entertainment Community Fund's Los Angeles housing.

Donations are requested in Simon's memory to the Entertainment Community Fund.