Mark Wayne Salling (born August 17, 1982 – January 30, 2018) was an American actor and musician. He was best known for his role as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the television series Glee.
Early Life
Mark Wayne Salling was born on August 17, 1982, in Dallas, Texas, and was the younger of two children. His father, John Robert Salling Jr., worked as an accountant, and his mother, Condy Sue Salling (née Wherry), served as a school secretary.
During his early years, Salling was homeschooled before attending Culver Military Academy, although he didn’t graduate there. He later completed his high school education at Lake Highlands High School in 2001. During high school, he also pursued his interest in sports and was a member of the school wrestling team.
After graduating high school, Salling pursued his passion for music and attended the prestigious Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music in Pasadena, California. There, he focused on studying guitar, honing his skills as a musician. To support himself financially while pursuing his music career, Salling worked as a guitar teacher, giving guitar lessons to aspiring musicians.
Salling’s breakthrough in the entertainment industry came when he began appearing in various movies and television shows. Notably, he played a role in the horror film “Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering” and gained significant recognition for his role as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the popular musical TV series “Glee.” His portrayal of Puck earned him a substantial fan base and widespread acclaim.
In addition to his acting pursuits, Salling had a passion for music beyond his acting career. He founded his independent record label called Pipe Dreams Records. In 2010, he released an album titled “Pipe Dreams,” showcasing his musical talents and adding another dimension to his creative endeavours.
However, Salling’s life took a dark turn when he faced legal troubles. In 2015, he was arrested on charges of possession of child pornography. After a lengthy legal process, he eventually pleaded guilty to the charges as part of a plea deal in 2017. Before his sentencing hearing, and while awaiting his fate, Salling tragically died by suicide on January 30, 2018.
Career
His musical journey began taking shape when he released his debut album, “Smoke Signals,” on February 8, 2008. Notably, he independently released this album under his label, Jericho Records. The album showcased his unique musical style and garnered positive attention from fans and critics alike.
Building on the success of his debut in 2010, Mark Wayne Salling released his second album, “Pipe Dreams.” Inspired by legendary acts such as Alice in Chains, Nine Inch Nails, Miles Davis, and Herbie Hancock, the album demonstrated his versatility as a composer, performer, and producer. This time, he partnered with Fontana Distribution to release the album through his label, Pipe Dreams Records. The album’s first single, “Higher Power,” premiered on August 10, 2010, further solidifying his position as a promising musician in the industry.
In addition to his music career, Salling also made a notable impact on the popular television show “Glee.” As part of the show’s cast, he sang and performed various songs, captivating audiences with his vocal talent and stage presence. Some of his memorable performances on the show included renditions of songs like “Sweet Caroline,” “Only the Good Die Young,” “The Lady Is a Tramp,” “Run Joey Run,” “Beth,” “Just Give Me a Reason,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Fat Bottomed Girls.” Beyond his on-screen presence, Salling wrote and created a video titled “Chillin’ on Glee,” featuring fellow cast and crew members, further showcasing his creativity and involvement in the show’s production.
Besides his music and television career, Salling pursued acting roles in movies. He appeared in films such as “Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering” (1996) and “The Graveyard” (2006). However, his portrayal of Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the Fox series “Glee” catapulted him to widespread fame and recognition.
Although he experienced remarkable success while on “Glee,” his role was later demoted to a recurring guest star from 2013 onwards. Despite the challenges in his career, Salling’s talent and impact on the show remained evident, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Tragically, the talented artist’s career and life were marred by a legal controversy.
In 2015, he faced severe legal charges related to possession of child pornography, which significantly affected his career and public image. The legal process culminated in his pleading guilty as part of a plea deal in 2017. However, before his sentencing hearing, he sadly took his own life on January 30, 2018, marking a devastating end to a career with immense potential and artistic flair.
Discography
- Higher Power
- Only One
- Mary Poppins
- Rock and Roll Superstar
- Autumn’s Fall
- Leavin’
- Mary Ann
- Pipe Dreams
- The Animal Song
- Lone Ranger
- Scarlet Glasses
- The Desperate Ones
- Invisible
- Song for a Girl
- Migration
Album: Pipe Dreams
- The Way It Goes
- Drought
- Suffocated
- Jesus
- Childhood Tragedy
- Higher Power
- Work It Out
- Becca’s Song
- Razor Blades
- Running
- The Desperate Ones
Filmography
- Children of the Corn IV
- The Graveyard
- Glee, the 3D concert movie
- Rocky Road
Personal Life
Mark Wayne Salling, known by his stage name Jericho, was an American actor and musician. He was best known for his role as Noah “Puck” Puckerman on the television series Glee. He was a long-time Echo Park Ornithology Club member in Los Angeles and even penned their theme song. He was also an animal lover and worked at an animal rescue center.
Salling had several legal issues during his career. In 2013, his ex-girlfriend accused him of committing sexual battery by having unprotected sex without her knowledge; he denied the charges and filed a counter-suit for defamation of character. The case was settled out of court, and he agreed to pay $2.7 million.
In 2015, he was arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography; later, a search warrant found over 50,000 images of child pornography, downloaded between April and December 2015, on his computer and USB flash drives. He was charged with receiving and possessing child pornography and was removed from the cast of Adi Shankar’s film Gods and Secrets.
In 2017, he pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, which was expected to result in Salling being sentenced to four to seven years in jail, in addition to registering as a sex offender and entering a treatment program, among other conditions. He was set to be sentenced on March 7, 2018, but died by suicide before the hearing.
On January 30, 2018, Mark Wayne Salling died by suicide by hanging in the Sunland area of Los Angeles. His body was discovered six hours after he was reported missing. The Los Angeles Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death as suicide.
Social Media
- Twitter @MarkSalling
- Instagram @mark_salling
Net Worth
He had an estimated net worth of about US$100,000 – US$500,000.