Mark Fleischman, who owned New York City’s famed Studio 54 in the 1980s, has died.The former club impresario died at Dignitas, an assisted-suicide clinic in Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to multiple outlets includingThe Washington Postand theBBC. He was 82.Fleischman’s business partner, Danny Fitzgerald, also confirmed the news via Fleischman’s wife, Mimi, in aFacebook post.“I wanted to let you know that Mark passed bravely and peacefully this morning,” Mimi wrote in a text to Fitzgerald, according to the post.Last month, Fleischmanspoke toThe New York Postof his plans to end his life, which he told the newspaper had become unbearable due to an undiagnosed medical condition.Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images"I can’t walk, my speech is f—ed up, and I can’t do anything for myself," he told the outlet. “My wife helps me get into bed and I can’t dress or put on my shoes. I am taking a gentle way out. It is the easiest way out for me.“Fleischman bought Studio 54 — which opened in New York City in 1977 and became a raucous hangout for celebrities — from founders Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager in the early 1980s.The businessman first became ill in 2016, according to the BBC. He was having trouble with his motor skills, but doctors were unable to pinpoint his cause of condition.“Doctors originally thought he had a form of Parkinson’s,” his wife Mimi toldThe New York Post. “But it is not that. Nobody knows what he has.“Adam Scull/Photolink/ShutterstockAfter a previous suicide attempt two years ago, Fleischman contacted Dignitas, which assists terminally ill people in ending their lives, thePostreported. Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1942.In March, novelist Amy Bloomspoke to PEOPLEabout her husband, Brian Ameche, who chose to end his life at the same clinic. Ameche had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “He knew what he wanted. He wanted to control his death and he wanted my support,” said Bloom, who shared their story in the memoirIn Love. “He’d made up his mind after 48 hours and never wavered.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.For Fleischman’s part, he toldThe New York Postthat he was okay with sharing his very private decision publicly.“At 82, I decided, why keep it a secret? I lived on my own terms. I am not afraid of anything. Not even death,” he said. “I look forward to it. I don’t believe in the hereafter. But I want to know what happens when I die. I’m curious. If I do come back as something else, I think it will be a wolf or a polar bear, an animal that has a good life.“If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to
Mark Fleischman, who owned New York City’s famed Studio 54 in the 1980s, has died.
The former club impresario died at Dignitas, an assisted-suicide clinic in Switzerland, on Wednesday, according to multiple outlets includingThe Washington Postand theBBC. He was 82.
Fleischman’s business partner, Danny Fitzgerald, also confirmed the news via Fleischman’s wife, Mimi, in aFacebook post.
“I wanted to let you know that Mark passed bravely and peacefully this morning,” Mimi wrote in a text to Fitzgerald, according to the post.
Last month, Fleischmanspoke toThe New York Postof his plans to end his life, which he told the newspaper had become unbearable due to an undiagnosed medical condition.
Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
“I can’t walk, my speech is f—ed up, and I can’t do anything for myself,” he told the outlet. “My wife helps me get into bed and I can’t dress or put on my shoes. I am taking a gentle way out. It is the easiest way out for me.”
Fleischman bought Studio 54 — which opened in New York City in 1977 and became a raucous hangout for celebrities — from founders Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager in the early 1980s.
The businessman first became ill in 2016, according to the BBC. He was having trouble with his motor skills, but doctors were unable to pinpoint his cause of condition.
“Doctors originally thought he had a form of Parkinson’s,” his wife Mimi toldThe New York Post. “But it is not that. Nobody knows what he has.”
Adam Scull/Photolink/Shutterstock
After a previous suicide attempt two years ago, Fleischman contacted Dignitas, which assists terminally ill people in ending their lives, thePostreported. Assisted suicide has been legal in Switzerland since 1942.
In March, novelist Amy Bloomspoke to PEOPLEabout her husband, Brian Ameche, who chose to end his life at the same clinic. Ameche had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. “He knew what he wanted. He wanted to control his death and he wanted my support,” said Bloom, who shared their story in the memoirIn Love. “He’d made up his mind after 48 hours and never wavered.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
For Fleischman’s part, he toldThe New York Postthat he was okay with sharing his very private decision publicly.
“At 82, I decided, why keep it a secret? I lived on my own terms. I am not afraid of anything. Not even death,” he said. “I look forward to it. I don’t believe in the hereafter. But I want to know what happens when I die. I’m curious. If I do come back as something else, I think it will be a wolf or a polar bear, an animal that has a good life.”
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go to
source: people.com
