MARK VAN WOERT - CEO & FOUNDER OF VANWOERT ENTERPRISES

EARLY LIFE

Underground Film Critic and Cult Director Mark James Van Woert was born in Owosso, Michigan. At the age of 19 Mark was bit by the acting bug when 20th Century Fox landed on his home town's door step of Alpena, Michigan. Where they filmed several scenes for Die Hard 2: Die Harder. He skipped several days of his senior year during the frigid dead of winter just for a chance to be in the film.

FILM CRITIC

Then sometime later in 1998 the world got it's first taste of Mark with the inception and extreme popularity of his horror/sci-fi film news and gossip website entitled HorrorManiacs.

During its four year run the site was noticed and given honors by such organizations as Paramount Pictures, Troma Entertainment, and Newline Cinema. It was one of the first independent run websites to be offered the opportunity by Hollywood production companies to promote their main stream horror films with licensed swag like movie posters, DVDs and VHS tapes.

At the peak of its popularity, the site received a minimum of 8,500 unique visits daily, and employed four freelance writer/film reviewers. The website was up on the latest news, gossip and housed thousands of film reviews which help pave the way for Mark as a legitimate Film Critic... aka "The b-Critic.

WEBMASTER, WRITER AND EDITOR

In late 2000 Mark was hired by the then CRACKED Magazine owner and publisher Dick Kulpa as it's official webmaster. From there, Mark moved up the corporate ladder. To Promotions Editor, then to Contributing Editor, while during the same time moonlighting as a contributing writer. 

During 2003 and 2004 Mark appeared as a Special Guest at a few Comic Con's throughout the country. Meeting, greeting, and signing autographs  for diehard CRACKED fans while sitting side by side with such names as Ron Perlman, Erin Gray,  Tony Amendola, Jerry "The King" Lawler, and comic book artist like Don Perlin, and Marv Wolfman. Unfortunately, in early 2005 due to declining sales and financial problems, the magazine was sold and the old regime retired.

After a full revamp and three failed attempts by the new ownership as a print magazine, it was once again sold to the now defunct Demand Media. Who turned it solely into a digital media format - CRACKED.com. Where it soon became the world's number one humor website. Later, in 2016 E.W. Scripps would buy CRACKED.com for $39 million dollars.

Mark would also team with Kulpa on many other popular projects. Like being a freelance writer (under an alias) and a contributing webmaster for the ever popular tabloid - Weekly World News. Where at the same time Kulpa held the reigns as senior editor and creative consultant. Both, of which were then published by American Media. 

Using the exposure from CRACKED and WWN, Mark was able to design, host and maintain several other popular websites that include official movie sites like "Nowhere Man", "The Fullmoon Fan Club," "Death Defying Acts" "Chicago Motion Picture Studios" and "No Solicitors." Plus a few official celebrity websites, like two scream queen phenomenon Debbie Rochon, and  Felissa Rose. Actor Robert Z'Dar from Tango and Cash, and Maniac Cop fame. Mark Patton from "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge. Byron Cherry aka Coy Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard TV series, and Don Pedro Colley, also best known for the Dukes, and Beneath the Planet of the Apes. 

TALENT AGENT AND MANAGER

In 2005 Mark tried his hand as a talent manager/appearance agent. Where he owned and operated the national talent agency called The Talent Bin (defuncted 2017)

Representing such names as Sonny Shroyer, best known as Enos from the Dukes of Hazzard, to Smokey and the Bandit, The Longest Yard, and Forrest Gump.

The duo, Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer, who replaced stars Tom Wopat and John Schneider as the Duke boys in season five of The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Unfortunately Christopher Mayer passed away July 23, 2011.

A short stint working with Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop, Tango and Cash) when Robert unexpectedly passed away March 30, 2015.

In 2012, Mark did something no other agent/manager has ever done, even to date - he represented nearly every Dream Warrior actor from "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" at one time; Ken Sagoes, Jennifer Rubin, Ira Heiden, and Penelope Sudrow.  In that same vein, Mark also worked with Kim Myers star of "A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge," for a short stint. 

To Don Pedro Colley, best known as Sheriff Little in "The Dukes of Hazzard," and Ongaro in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes." To his roles in several of Fred "The Hammer" Williamson's Blacksploitation films, and his countless television appearances in such TV hits as "The Bionic Woman," "The A-Team," "Adam 12," and "Starsky and Hutch," just to name a few. Mark was Don's agent and Manager until his death October 11, 2017, after losing his battle with cancer.

ACTOR, WRITER, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR

In 2005 Mark was tasked by President and founder of TROMA Entertainment Lloyd Kaufman to direct, film, and star in a DVD short for their release of a cult classic starring Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke) called "CRAZED" (aka Nicole.)

Then in 2006 to star as himself in "Debbie Rochon Confidential: My Years in Tromaville." Both of these films are currently available on Amazon.

In 2015 Mark teamed up with Chicago native Tony DeGuide of Chicago Motion Picture Studios after writing a feature length film called "Dead End." Both collaborated to produced and get the film distributed. This would be Mark's directorial debut. Unfortunately the film never found distribution.

With all that being said, more recently Mark has appeared as an extra in a few box office hits like - Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, Transformers 4: Age of Extinction, Real Steel, RoboCop (2014) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. 

RECENTLY

From 2014 to 2017, Mark took a short hiatus from the business to concentrate on his family, and home life. However, he still continued to book events mainly for Don Pedro, up until his death.

Then in late January 2018, the Original Captain Marvel, Jackson Bostwick, from the 70's television hit "SHAZAM!" asked Mark if he could represent him. Marking his return...

Jackson, who, later in the year appeared at a con with WWE Hall of Famer Greg "The Hammer" Valentine... told him about his management, and the rest is history. Greg signed on in November 2018, and their contract terminated in November of 2019.

As of 2019 Mark signed with Marvel and DC Comic creator Arvell Jones, actress Lori Lethin, and Charles Haid (no longer active.)

TODAY

Coming soon.

For more info check out Mark's IMDB Profile by clicking here, or here for Mark's Amazon movie profile!

In June 2004 Mark was a special guest and Ron Perlman, aka "Hellboy" was the Featured guest at DREAMCON 04!  

Mark and family friend Jackson Bostwick hanging out at the Opry Mills mall in Nashville, 2018.