Glenn Quinn appeared in the hit sitcom Roseanne as Mark Healy from seasons 3 through 9 and after the show ended, the spin-off sequel series The Conners paid tribute to the deceased actor. There are plenty of characters from Roseanne who haven’t appeared in The Conners, but sadly, while some could still show up, Mark Healy will not be one of them. First appearing in season 3, episode 6, “Becky, Beds and Boys”, Mark was Becky’s (Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke) rebellious boyfriend, then after they eloped, her husband, and finally, the father of her child.
Neither Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) nor Dan (John Goodman) liked Mark at first thanks to his dimwittedness and punk attitude. Slowly, he earned the family’s respect, primarily through his devotion to Becky. Mark was the biggest role in Glenn Quinin’s filmography, but he had other significant performances in his tragically short career. He appeared in nine episodes of Angel as Allen Francis Doyle and also played Cedric Grey in Covington Cross. Quinn’s untimely passing affected many of the people he’d worked with, and he was honored years later in The Conners.
The Conners 100th episode promises a character death, leaving viewers to wonder which member of the Roseanne spinoff’s cast will exit the show.
Glenn Quinn’s Mark Healy Died In A Motorcycle Crash Between Roseanne & The Conners
Glenn Quinn Passed Away In 2002 And The Show Did Not Recast The Character
Roseanne ended in 1997 and was revived for one more season in 2018. After that revival was canceled, the spin-off series The Conners arrived a few months later, sans Barr. Glenn Quinn passed away at the age of 32 in 2002 in the interim between the shows. The cause of death was listed as a drug overdose (via the Los Angeles Times). When Roseanne returned in 2018, instead of recasting the character, it was revealed that Mark Healy had passed away in some unknown accident.
By tackling Quinn’s death head-on, The Conners honored the actor in a way that would not have been possible had they ignored Mark’s character or recast him.
Quinn was honored with a tribute in the finale of the Roseanne revival, as the camera lingers on a photo of Quinn in the Conners’ home and a dedication card appears. It would not be until The Conners season 3 that his death would be attributed to a motorcycle crash. The Conners season 6 also addressed Mark’s death and, by extension, Quinn’s. By tackling Quinn’s death head-on, The Conners honored the actor in a way that would not have been possible had they ignored Mark’s character or recast him.
It’s a loving and thoughtful dedication to Quinn, and it echoes Fishman’s sentiments that he’s always held about Quinn. In a Facebook post from 2018, he said,
“Glenn is missed by us daily. He remains part of the show, and close to our hearts. Before each taping we do cast introductions for the audience. We come out of Roseanne and Dan’s master bedroom, through the kitchen to meet the crowd. It is an exhilarating immediate connection with fans. In that hallway, I brought in Glenn’s picture, we each pass it before every episode we film. We remember Glenn every day. He will always be with us, part of us, part of the #Roseanne show and family.”
Now that audiences have seen episode 1004, it becomes clear how much Becky and Darlene have grown up. Facing the… Posted by Michael Fishman on Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Fishman clearly has a real love for Quinn and has not forgotten his friend and co-star in the decades since his passing. As Mark married D.J.’s older sister, the pair shared many scenes together and likely developed a bond in that time.
The casts of Roseanne and The Conners were not the only people who fondly remember their co-star. Angel lead, David Boreanaz, who plays the titular vampire, said about Quinn, via EW,
“Glenn played a great character, but also became a really close friend of mine. God rest his soul.”
It’s tragic that Glenn Quinn passed, at such a young age, but it’s hard not to be impressed by what he managed to accomplish in his acting career in just a few short years. Whether it’s his work on Roseanne, Angel, or another project, he will always be remembered by his co-stars and fans alike.
