Mark Stevens, a second-tier star during the 1940s and 1950s, was born Richard William Stevens in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 13, 1916.
He had a father who was an American flyer and his parents divorced when he was young. Mark was sent to England where he found himself kicked out of several schools and eventually lived with his maternal grandparents. He later moved to Canada, where he was raised by his older sister.
Mark was slight in stature, but he built himself up through athletics. A back injury sustained while training as a Canadian Olympic diver kept him from serving in WWII.
He initially studied art, but a gift for singing led him to nightclub and theatre work, performing in musicals and legit plays throughout the Canadian provinces. Radio broadcasting also became a creative outlet for Mark.
He eventually returned to his Ohio hometown and earned leading roles at the Cleveland Playhouse. His stage work led him to set his sights on Hollywood, where he gained a studio contract due to his youth and talent.
Mark became a contract player at Warner Brothers, where he was groomed in bit parts and given the marquee name of Stephen Richards. He soon moved to 20th Century-Fox, where he was renamed Mark Stevens and his hair was darkened and freckles covered up to enhance his looks.
He starred in several notable films, including Within These Walls, The Dark Corner, The Street with No Name, and The Snake Pit. He also appeared in musicals, such as I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now and Oh, You Beautiful Doll.
Despite his good looks and abilities, Mark was constantly pigeonholed as a lesser version of John Payne or Alan Ladd. He later directed and starred in the "B" level crimer Cry Vengeance and appeared in guest spots on TV dramas.
Mark retired from acting and went on to produce and direct, earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. He moved to Europe in the late 1950s and operated a restaurant in Spain. He was married twice and had two children.
Mark's later years were marked by occasional work in Hollywood and owning/maintaining apartment buildings. He died of cancer in Majores, Spain, at age 77, on September 15, 1994.
