Mark Teschner, Edgemont High School Class of 1975, has spent more than four decades shaping the television industry as one of Hollywood’s most respected casting directors. A native New Yorker, Mark has built an extraordinary career discovering talent and helping bring some of television’s most memorable performances to the screen.
For the past 36 years, Mark has served as Casting Director for ABC’s General Hospital, casting nearly 9,000 episodes of the iconic series. Along the way, he has received 11 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Casting and 7 Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America. Industry recognition for his work has been widespread — Rolling Stone called him “an actor’s casting director,” while TV Guide praised his “unparalleled track record for discovering new talent.” Most recently, Mark was honored with the 2024 Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for his leadership and achievements in television.
Beyond General Hospital, Mark also cast all six seasons of the show’s first spin-off, Port Charles, as well as Night Shift. He has served as Vice President of the Casting Society of America and as a Governor for the Television Academy.
Mark credits Edgemont’s small and personal environment with helping shape the way he connects with people — a skill that became central to his success in casting. “It really forged how I think about relating to people and connecting with people,” he says. He also notes that many of the friendships he formed at Edgemont remain strong today, a lasting testament to the close-knit community that defined his high school experience.
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