Kriti Mehrotra
Directed and produced by Joshua Rofé, HBO’s ‘The Mortician’ is a documentary series that unravels the haunting story of one of California’s most infamous family-run mortuary businesses. Lamb Funeral Home was a big part of the community in Los Angeles County, but as David Sconce took over the cremation side of the family business in the 1980s, things began crumbling. That’s because he engaged in some morally questionable and inhumane practices, which he as well as some of his former employees, like Andre Augustine, admitted to in the original production.
Andre Augustine Was Hired as a Driver by Lamb Funeral Home
As an only child born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Andre Joseph Augustine was spoiled by his family, but he also developed a strong appreciation for creativity and sports from an early age. He developed a particular passion for football as a young boy, and upon graduating from a renowned Catholic school, he enrolled at Colorado State University to play the sport. He actually did so while earning a Bachelor’s in Journalism and Photography before later finding himself agreeing to become a driver for Lamb Funeral Home’s cremation services.
When Andre showed up for the job, which he’d acquired with the help of a friend called David Edwards, who was already working there, he had no idea what he was supposed to do. He quickly realized he had to transport dead bodies from across California to the Pasadena Crematorium, which included helping load the bodies into the truck. He admittedly almost quit on his very first day, owing to the overwhelming smell of death in the boxed trunk he had to drive for hours and hours on end, but he persisted because he wanted to make his own living.
Little did Andre know that he would soon become entangled in David Sconce’s morally and ethically questionable practices, witnessing multiple bodies being placed in the furnace at once. He admittedly saw his boss as well as his fellow employees break bones or dismember to ensure they could fit as many as possible into a furnace in just one go. Andre described feeling as though he was being pulled into a criminal underworld, which made him question his own moral compass. According to the reports, David Sconce allegedly discussed paying Andre to intimidate one of his rivals, but Andre did not go through with anything and ultimately left the job.
Andre Augustine Eventually Established a Career in the Entertainment Industry
Andre’s overall physique, mental strength, and playing skills were actually so great that he ultimately got a chance to play professional football under the banner of the New York Jets for 4 years. After this, he somehow found himself landing a job with the then-largest crowd management company named Contemporary Services Corp, and he essentially evolved into a security guard. He subsequently worked on projects involving LL Cool J, Will Smith, George Thorogood, Aerosmith, and many more such celebrities and bands before getting to go on the road with RUN DMC.
It was in 1986 when Andre became a security guard for RUN DMC, with his responsibilities involving supervising the entire venue security plan for all the venues they toured that summer. He reportedly performed so well that he was re-hired by them the following year, after which he advanced to a supervisory security role with KISS. The former defensive tackle and tight end player gradually became a road manager as well, which means he planned the band’s entire travel while on tour and took care of their every need. In other words, he managed their hotel stays, organized their transportation to ensure they stayed on schedule, and oversaw other logistical needs during the tour.
However, because Andre’s role required him to work only during the band’s preparation and tour periods, he was essentially unemployed during the off-season. This gradually led him to different ambitions, including becoming an author, getting into the world of merchandising, and taking on a more managerial role for different bands on tour. From what we can tell, he never could explore the world of merch, but he did pen a book titled ‘Guardian of the Gods’ in 1999, in which he offers an unseen perspective into the music and touring industries. Furthermore, in 2007, he became the Director at On Tour Management, a position he appears to hold to this day.
Andre Augustine is a Dedicated Family Man Today
Although Andre has been through his fair share of ups and downs in life, he admittedly doesn’t regret any aspect of his past because it has all led him to be where he is today. Still residing in Los Angeles, California, the 65-year-old may be single at the moment, long having parted ways with his former wife, but is a proud father of four boys. From what we can tell, his sons include rapper Hugh Augustine, CEO of apparel brand Dazed Not Confused Hamilton Augustine, and artist/video creator Harrison Augustine. Andre also doesn’t shy away from the fact that although he has managed to build a good life for himself, he does still feel the loss of his parents, Irene Augustine and Ulysses Augustine, who have both sadly passed away.
Read More: Barbara Hunt: What Happened to David Sconce’s Ex-Wife?
