'You' producer reveals they had to scrap a 'major storyline' with Mr. Mooney for season 3 because actor Mark Blum died from COVID-19 complications (2024)
Executive producer Sera Gamble told Insider that Mr. Mooney was meant to appear on the third season, but the actor who plays him, Mark Blum, died before they could finish it.
Mr. Mooney was originally part of a 'major storyline' on season 3
When asked if there were any loose ends she wished season three wrapped up, Gamble brought up a storyline that had been cut due to an actor's death.
"The major storyline that I wish we could have done was one with Mr. Mooney in it," Gamble told Insider. "We were in the middle of that and we scrapped it and we started over."
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Mr. Mooney was portrayed by Mark Blum, who died at age 69 due to complications related to COVID-19 on March 25, 2020.
"You" began filming its third season in November 2020. It was put on hold due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and it didn't wrap until April 2021.
"It's painful on a human level and also we had a lot more story to tell with that character. And I think that will always be in our minds, we get to continue to tell the story," Gamble told Insider.
She continued, "In my mind, it's almost been like, we want to find little ways to honor that character because it's a way of paying respects to that actor."
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Blum appeared on the first season of 'You' and dozens of other projects
Blum appeared throughout the first season of the show as Mr. Mooney, the bookseller who took Joe (Penn Badgley) in and taught him how to repair books. Mr. Mooney was harsh with Joe and locked him in the glass box in the bookstore basem*nt for days at a time.
Blum was also an accomplished actor and Broadway star.
He had roles in classic films like "Desperately Seeking Susan" (1985), "Crocodile Dundee" (1986), and "Shattered Glass" (2003). He also appeared on shows like Amazon Prime's "Mozart in the Jungle" and NBC's "Law & Order."
His actor, Mark Blum, passed away in 2020. It was revealed that there was going to be a storyline involving Mr. Mooney in the third season. But this was scrapped after Mark Blum's passing, as the third season hadn't started filming until November 2020.
Blum died from complications associated with COVID-19 at New York–Presbyterian Hospital on March 25, 2020, aged 69, during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. The season 3 premieres of You and Succession were dedicated in Blum's memory, as well as the second episode of the fifth season of Billions.
On You, he played former-prison-guard-turned-book-store owner Mr. Mooney during the show's first season. Mooney adopted Joe (Penn Badgley) after Joe was sent to a foster home as a child and Joe later worked at his bookstore as a manager.
Mooney is a recurring character in YOU. He is portrayed by Mark Blum. He was Joe Goldberg's adoptive father and raised him until he reached adulthood. He is the owner of a book store named after him called Mooney's.
Joe confessed to Beck, in what seemed like an emotional moment at the time, that Mr. Mooney had a debilitating stroke that left him paralyzed and mute. And that's where things get murky: It's pretty convenient for Joe that the man who knows so many of his dark secrets can't walk or talk.
In the final scene, Joe reclaims his identity and returns to his beloved New York, now with Kate by his side. He runs a bookstore; she runs her father's empire. Joe and Kate, a veritable power couple, give an interview to New York Magazine. He lies about killing Love and running away to escape an abusive relationship.
Big Ang star Linda Torres died on April 2, 2021, after being diagnosed with COVID-19. She was 67. Torres was Angela "Big Ang" Raiola's friend, appearing on her VH1 reality show and Mob Wives.
After a few years in the foster care system, it's implied that Mr. Mooney (Mark Blum) adopted Joe (Gianni Ciardiello), took care of him and gave him a job at the bookstore.
You Season 4 took a different narrative route to other seasons and introduced a new killer. During Lady Phoebe's party at her secluded estate, the audience learns that Rhys Montrose was targeting the elites and was blackmailing Joe to join him.
Touching tribute arrives at the end of the first episode
Some viewers were left wondering why the episode was dedicated to Blum. Sadly, it is because the actor died last year of complications related to Covid-19.
Episode 5 of Season 4, "The Fox and the Hound," reveals that Rhys Montrose, a bestselling author always in the background of the rich people's parties, had orchestrated the murders, attempting to frame Joe for them after discovering who he really was.
Paco remains one of You's survivors with a fairly happy ending - which in this case is simply living - but his dynamic with Joe is also one of the most complicated.
While Joe obviously thinks he's the better match, Beck keeps going back to Benji. As a result, Joe decides to put a stop to his competition for good. In episode 2 of season 1, Joe kills Benji by putting peanut oil in his coffee, knowing he has a fatal allergy to nuts.
Upon unlocking all of the levels, Mr. Stick appears after this in Staff Only, near the entrance to WAR, and the boss fight against Pizzaface, under the alias "Mr. Mooney".
Joe leaves his son at his friend Dante's doorstep, who was struggling to adopt a kid with his partner. His “late” wish to the couple was that they raised him as their own. A peek into Henry's life with Dante is portrayed in Season 3, showing him growing up happy in his new dads' care.
Joe approached her, much to her shock. Joe asks her what's wrong with him for her to leave him, if it was him killing his father, to which Sandy replied that she made too many mistakes and was hurting, in need of starting over completely. With that, she and Jakey left Joe, never to be seen again.
Rhys Montrose, one of friends among the elite group, reveals he is the killer and Joe's stalker. Rhys tells Joe he planned to pin all the murders on Roald and kill him to make it look like a suicide so he can't protest his innocence.
Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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