Nationwide — Steve Mensch, President of Tyler Perry Studios, tragically died in a single-seater plane crash in Florida on Friday night. Mensch, who was 62 years old, was piloting the aircraft when it crashed on West White Dogwood Drive near US 98 in Homosassa.
Mensch had been a key figure at Tyler Perry Studios since 2016, managing operations at the 300-acre Atlanta facility and becoming a respected member of Georgia’s business community. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Tyler Perry Studios expressed deep sorrow over his death, mourning the loss of their long-time colleague.
“Steve was a cherished member of our team for more than 8 years, and well-beloved in the community of Atlanta. It is hard to imagine not seeing him smiling throughout the halls. We will miss him dearly. Our heart goes out to his family as we all send them our prayers.”
Tyler Perry also shared his personal grief, reflecting on the difficulty of losing a friend and mentor.
“This time of year, grief meets me like an unwanted visitor, as tomorrow marks 15 years since the loss of my mother. It feels especially harder because I have lost so many friends and mentors this year, ranging in age from as young as 40 to 92. And today, yet another loss,” Perry wrote on his Instagram post.
“I’ve been trying to understand this tragedy all day—what went wrong with that plane. Steve loved flying, and he loved that plane; he took so much pride in it. I’m praying for his family as we all try to make sense of this heartbreak.
Life is but a moment; we are like vapors. Hold strong to the people you love AND TELL THEM!”