Lee W Bailey

Mark Daniel Bailey is an American writer and filmmaker, born in 1968. He is recognized for his work on documentary films, including "Last Days in Vietnam," "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing," and "The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari." Bailey, along with his wife Rory Kennedy, operates Moxie Films, a production company that creates documentaries for various broadcast and cable networks, as well as for educational and philanthropic organizations.

His career began in writing, with early success in documentary features like "American Hollow" and "Pandemic: Facing AIDS," both of which garnered award nominations. Bailey also contributed to the script for Marvel's "Black Panther." His writing credits extend to "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" and "Ethel." In addition to his film work, Bailey has authored several books, often illustrated by Edward Hemingway, exploring themes from Hollywood history and cocktail recipes to literary figures and children's stories. He has also edited compilations and created satirical calendars.

Mark Daniel Bailey is primarily known for his work as a documentary filmmaker. He co-owns Moxie Films with his wife, Rory Kennedy, producing content for major networks like Netflix, HBO, and National Geographic. His notable directorial and writing contributions include "Last Days in Vietnam" (2014), which received an Academy Award nomination, and "Downfall: The Case Against Boeing" (2022), which achieved significant popularity on Netflix. "The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari" (2022), another project he produced and cowrote, also saw widespread success on Netflix, topping charts in multiple countries. Bailey's earlier documentary work includes "American Hollow" (1999), recognized with an Independent Spirit Award nomination and an Emmy nomination, and "Pandemic: Facing AIDS" (2003), for which he earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding writing. He also cowrote "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib" (2007), which won an Emmy for best nonfiction special.

Beyond his extensive filmography, Mark Daniel Bailey has authored several books. "Of All the Gin Joints: Stumbling Through Hollywood History" (2014) offers anecdotes about Hollywood figures paired with cocktail recipes. His "Hemingway & Bailey's Bartending Guide to Great American Writers" (2006) blends literary history with drink recipes. Bailey also coauthored the children's picture book "Tiny Pie" (2013). He served as editor for "Nine Irish Lives: The Thinkers, Fighters & Artists Who Helped Build America" and "The Tibetans: A Struggle to Survive." In 2016, Bailey launched the "Tiny Headed Kingdom" line of plush toys and related merchandise. He also created the satirical "Courts Illustrated: Surf, Sand, and Supreme Court Justices" wall calendar in 2017.

Mark Daniel Bailey married filmmaker Rory Kennedy on August 2, 1999. Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, met Bailey in Washington D.C. Their wedding, initially planned for July 17, was postponed due to the tragic plane crash involving John F. Kennedy Jr. and his family. The couple resides in Los Angeles, California, and has three children: Georgia Elizabeth, Bridget Katherine, and Zachary Corkland. Bailey's background includes graduating from the University of Vermont in 1991 and attending Georgetown University for a master's degree in English before beginning his writing career in 1999.

“Given that the film would go on to become the third-highest-grossing film in U.S. history, it would be hard to argue that Marvel’s decision to replace me was unwise.”