Comedian Mark Walker, who has been a ring announcer for the Nova-Scotia based New Breed Wrestling promotion, has died. He was 61.
Also known as Mark Walk and Mark Christian Walker, he was gifted with the ability to do impressions as well as comedy; he could mimic everyone from classics like John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart and Johnny Carson to cartoon voices from Looney Toons and South Park. (Note there is a UK-based entertainer named Mark Walker.)
“We were shocked to learn that our beloved ring announcer Mark Walk passed away. This is a devastating loss as Mark was a dear friend to many in the NBW locker room and our community. We will always remember Mark as a kind, sweet and compassionate man who never missed an opportunity to make us laugh,” the New Breed Wrestling Facebook page posted.
Walker was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, on January 14, 1964, but was raised in Truro. His abusive father later became part of the stories on stage. “The darker more dysfunctional side of my upbringing would come later in my stand-up life after much self-examination and confidence,” Walker once said.
By the age of three, Walker was doing impressions, and by high school was in countless talent shows, and, in the mid-1980s, he started in comedy.
New talent nights at Yuk Yuk’s in Halifax were really where it all began. A Yuk Yuk’s profile page described him: “Mark Walker is a comedian with an incredible ability to combine razor sharp comedy with a dazzling array of celebrity impressions. His insights into the idiosyncrasies of life combined with his impressions of everyone from Jimmy Stewart to Joe Pesci have led him to become one of Canada’s most celebrated comedians and voice impressionists.”
In 1988, Walker moved to Toronto and began his comedic journey, and was soon an in-demand comedian and emcee.
“Known for his generosity in the comedy community, Mark mentored many young comics,” the New Breed Wrestling post noted, adding, “However, as the industry shifted, he found himself frustrated by fewer gigs and decided to return to Truro in 2016. There, he aimed to reignite his career, possibly writing a one-man show and exploring the U.S. comedy scene. No matter where he went, one thing remained certain—he was one of the kindest people in comedy.”
Comedian Eric Johnston, who has his own personal ties to professional wrestling through his father, uncle and grandfather, said the loss is significant in the tight Canadian comedy circuit.
“You know what a great legendary Canadian comedian he was when every comic in Canada is affected and sharing about it,” said Johnston.
Walker had a love of professional wrestling — his Facebook page — currently full of tributes — said that he “Studied at Stone Cold University (Class of 3:16),” and there’s a photo of him kitted up like “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
Details of Walker’s passing and funeral information are not known at this time.
