Edward “Eddie” Marks, the Emmy-winning president of Western Costume Company, died on Monday in Prague. He was 76.
Marks had a longstanding career in costuming, working his way up to become president of Western Costume Company, where he helped grow the brand into one of the world’s largest costume companies.
Marks was born on July 1, 1947, in Bayonne, N.J. to Lambert Marks and Beverly Hess. By 1952, Mark’s family relocated to the West side of Los Angeles, where he stayed for the rest of his life and began his career in entertainment in 1965.
Marks started out at MGM Studios, working in costuming with the likes of Elvis Presley and on film titles including “Girl Happy,” “Spinout” and “Stay Away.” After leaving MGM in 1968, he began freelancing, going on to work as the costume supervisor for the Emmy-nominated series “The Streets of San Francisco” which starred Karl Malden and Michael Douglas.
By 1988, Marks acquired an Emmy for outstanding achievement in costuming for a mini-series of special in the 1988 CBS L.A. crime drama “Shakedown on Sunset Strip.” He went on to work across a series of notable titles, including “The Breakfast Club,” “Dead Poets Society” “Christmas Vacation” and “Revenge of the Nerds.”
Marks began working with Western Costume in 1989 where he spearheaded its relocation from Melrose to North Hollywood, where he would eventually become the company president.
Marks is survived by his wife; Debby Marks, his sons; Branden and Garret Marks; his grandson; Aiden Levy Marks; his brother; Sanford Marks and his sister; Wendy Goodman Marks.