Mike Schank

Schank began learning how to play guitar at the age of six. Schank is shown acting in and assisting with the production of Coven; also showcased is his ability to play guitar, including while blindfolded. The score for American Movie was provided by Schank. and Drake Bentley and Piet Levy of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel retrospectively wrote that Schank's "deadpan humor and quiet sweetness in [American] Movie made him a beloved, unforgettable figure." On March 11, 2001, the Price-directed documentary ''Caesar's Park'' premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas; that night, at a party for the film at Club Deville attended by Price and Smith, Schank performed songs by Black Sabbath and Metallica while Borchardt interacted with fans. Alongside Borchardt, Schank appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, where he met one of his musical idols, Gene Simmons of the band Kiss. and, in 2006, made cameo appearances as themselves in an episode of Family Guy and an episode of Greg the Bunny. Schank also had roles in the 2009 film Modus Operandi and the 2014 film Hamlet A.D.D.. Around 2009, Schank also starred in a commercial for Golia, a brand of Italian mints. Outside of his film and television appearances, Schank recorded three homemade CDs—Songs I Know (2000), Classical Songs I Know (2008), and Dreams I Know—Yesternight (2009). Dreams I Know features Schank recalling the details of dreams that he had noted in a diary, along with instrumentation performed on acoustic guitar, as well as drum loops and samples. In a 2002 interview, Schank stated that he would rather "freak someone out at a party at Mark's house at how well I can play guitar" than act in movies. ==Personal life==

Schank lived on the East Side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his wife Kate. He is also shown buying scratch-off tickets, saying that, "When you play the lottery, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But it's better than using drugs or alcohol, because when you use drugs and alcohol, especially drugs, you always lose." Schank shared his sobriety milestones on social media, and celebrated his "27 years clean and sober birthday" in August 2022. ==Death==

In June 2022, Schank revealed in a Facebook post that he was diagnosed with cancer, writing: Jackie Bogenberger, a fellow member of the Milwaukee Alano Club, stated that he underwent both radiation and chemotherapy, and that, "One of the last things Mike said to me was, 'Hey Jackie, I feel really bad for children who have cancer. They should never have to. Schank died on October 13, at the age of 56. A friend of Schank's told the Milwaukee Record that he "passed away early this morning in his mother's arms." The news of his death was met with statements of tribute from a number of actors, filmmakers, and other admirers, including Borchardt, Mark Duplass, Patton Oswalt, Taika Waititi, Rainn Wilson, Elijah Wood, and Edgar Wright. A Celebration of Life event was held at the Milwaukee Alano Club in November 2022 in honor of Schank. Schank was active with the organization up until his death. == Filmography ==

Film Television == Discography==

• Songs I Know (2000) • Classical Songs I Know (2008) • Dreams I Know—Yesternight (2009) ==References==