I live in a world of Celebrity Impersonations where I see Arnold Schwarzenegger as Darth Vadar, Jack Nicholson working the drive thru at Jack-in-Box, John Wayne talking with Katherine Hepburn in Rooster Cogburn and Bill Clinton singing songs about Hillary. I do over 70 impersonations of famous people - celebrities – characters telling jokes and stories or singing songs like Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison.

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     I did my first impression at the age of five of John Wayne after watching “The War Wagon” at the Saturday afternoon bijou. We came outside and I started talking like The Duke himself. My friends couldn’t believe how much I sounded like him. Over the past 40 plus years I had performed sporadically until 2015. Then the light came on and I started doing my standup routine as Festus Haggen, the Dodge City Deputy from Gunsmoke, the western TV series. Buck Taylor, who played Newly O’Brien on Gunsmoke said of Mark’s Festus impersonation; “I feel like I am standing next to Festus right NOW! I am! Man, that’s scary!” 

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     The Festus & Friends Show includes many celebrities and characters. Some of the celebrities are Jimmy Stewart, Liam Neeson, Clint Eastwood, Slyvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Cash, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Matthew McConaughey, Christopher Walken, and many more. Several characters include Forrest Gump, Peter Falk as Columbo, Darth Vadar, Captain Kirk, and Karl from Slingblade. I also use various local and foreign accents.

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     Most recently I performed as a Festus tribute artist at theaters and resorts in Pigeon Forge, TN. Other venues where I have performed are RV Parks, fairs, festivals, private functions, cowboy churches, chuckwagon cookoffs, entertainment venues and corporate events. I can do voice over work, commercials and am experienced as an emcee. My comedy is family friendly and good clean humor.

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     My mission is to honor God, and lead people to Jesus Christ through laughter and testimony. I accepted Christ in 1980 and have served as a pastor, teacher, and 17 years as a NASCAR track chaplain. I served 4 years honorably, in the United States Marine Corps. I am married to my long-time love Diana since 1981, who sometimes joins me as Miss Kitty at festivals and chuckwagon cookoffs. I have two grown married children and five grandchildren.