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. All of them tell jokes or stories or sing songs like Johnny Cash singing Folsom Prison.

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    I did my first impression at the age of five. My first John Wayne impression was in 1967 when I and my friends watched “The War Wagon” at the bijou. We came out and I did an impersonation of The Duke and they were speechless, their eyes wide open stating “that I sounded just like John Wayne in the movie”. Well as much as a kid of nine could sound like The Duke.

  

    The impressions started adding up rapidly in high school and then in the Marines. 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!”  My other impersonations are regarded as excellent, but my Festus is regarded as EPIC! And from that point on my Festus & Friends Show took off.

    Some other celebrities and characters in the Festus & Friends show are Jimmy Stewart, Liam Neeson, Forrest Gump, Peter Falk as Columbo, Clint Eastwood, Slyvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Darth Vadar, Jack Nicholson, Johnny Cash, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Christopher Walken, and many more.

 

    I have been booked across the country. I perform as Festus tribute artist at theaters in Pigeon Forge, resorts, RV Parks, festivals, private functions, cowboy churches, entertainment venues and corporate events. I am an experienced emcee and have preached in churches on occasion. My comedy is extremely clean, and I have always been asked to come back.

Mark’s mission is to honor God, and lead people to Jesus Christ through laughter and testimony. He accepted Christ in 1980 and has served as a pastor, teacher, and 17 years as a NASCAR track chaplain. He's also a seasoned emcee and public speaker.

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    Mark served 4 years honorably, in the United States Marine Corps, and is married to his long-time love Diana since 1981. He has two grown married children and five grandchildren.