Mark Ross Locher; Screen Actors Guild Communications Chief

Mark Ross Locher, 37, national director of communications for the Screen Actors Guild for eight years. A graduate of Occidental College, Locher received his master’s degree from Northwestern University. He began working for the guild in 1980 and in 1985 became its youngest national spokesman ever. During his tenure, Locher revived the guild’s national magazine, Screen Actor, developed a local newsletter, Screen Actor Hollywood, and built the Screen Actors Guild Archives, a repository of photos, papers and videotapes documenting the union’s history. Last year, Locher helped found the SAG Foundation AIDS Task Force, which provides financial support to organizations that assist entertainers who have HIV or AIDS. Locher was also on the board of Project Angel Food, which serves hot meals to those with HIV. A historic preservationist, he was on the board of directors of Hollywood Heritage from 1984 to 1988. On Friday in Hollywood of AIDS.