Marvin Levy, who invested five-plus years managing public relations for Steven Spielberg and his movies en path to ending up being the only press agent to get an Oscar, passed away Monday, an Amblin agent revealed. He was 96.
Levy worked for MGM in New York City and for Columbia Pictures in Hollywood, where he started his relationship with Spielberg on Close Encounters of the Third Kind ( 1977 ). The soft-spoken executive ended up being a “Spielberg Whisperer,” providing counsel to the filmmaker.
In presenting Levy at the Governors Awards in November 2018, Tom Hanks kept in mind that the press agent likewise encouraged Spielberg on movies consisting of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial ( 1982 ), finest image winner Schindler’s List ( 1993 ), Conserving Personal Ryan ( 1998) and Lincoln ( 2012 ).
” Now, all those films are quite damn excellent, however I do not believe any of us in this space would have troubled seeing them without the efforts of Marvin Levy,” a saucy Hanks stated before the press agent pertained to the phase to accept his Oscar.
The work “needs to have to do with appearing for something excellent; it needs to have a function,” Levy stated in his approval speech. “The individual who a lot of taught me that is Steven Spielberg. He’s constantly treated me like a writer, and we are all writers in the general public relations branch. “
The Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences had presidents (Richard Kahn and Cheryl Boone Isaacs) originated from that branch, however nobody had actually been offered an honorary Oscar till Levy got his.
” The Academy might not have actually selected a more ideal ceiling-breaker than Levy, who has actually practiced practically every element of his occupation– and been a credit to it every action of the method,” THR Awards Expert Scott Feinberg composed.
He retired in July 2024. “To state that Marvin has actually been an important part of my individual and expert life is an understatement,” Spielberg kept in mind at the time.
On Tuesday, Spielberg stated in a declaration:.
” Marvin’s death is a big loss for me and our market writ big. There are numerous gifted PR executives, however Marvin was among a kind. For over 50 years, he was a deeply devoted and remarkable partner who was appreciated and valued by all those who were fortunate adequate to gain from his counsel. When it pertained to managing journalism, he had no peer. To the media and the world of exhibit, Marvin was the face of Amblin.
” We were opposite ends of the movie-making procedure. Whenever I reached completion of production on a movie, Marvin’s work had actually just started. Through numerous movies, television series, Amblin occasions, awards projects and our public relations method– this is where Marvin came alive. He liked his work and was constantly passionate about our company. He was innovative, ingenious and appreciated for his understanding and sincerity. He was delighted to figure how brand-new and much better methods to present movies to audiences. As an outcome, he was the very first and just press agent to get an Academy Award.
” I am grateful for all our years together. Marvin never ever stopped working to make me laugh, he never ever stopped smiling. We will miss you, Marvin. You will constantly remain in our hearts, and your memory will constantly make us smile.”
Levy was born upon Nov. 16, 1928, in New York City City and raised on the East Side of Manhattan. After finishing from NYU in 1949, he got a task as a scientist for a television test program however got fired when a participant responded to a concern that he had actually composed too rapidly.
He then was used by Tex McCrary and Jinx Falkenburg, a couple who hosted 2 radio talk reveals a day and had a column in the New York City Herald Tribune They needed to let him go when company slowed, however McCrary offered him a radiant recommendation letter that got him into the “marketing, promotion and exploitation” department at MGM.
Mentored by his employer, lyricist and press agent Howard Dietz, Levy assisted MGM customers get direct exposure when they pertained to New york city and added to awards projects for the ultimate finest image winners Gigi (1958) and Ben-Hur ( 1959 ).
Marvin Levy (left) with star Glenn Ford in the 1950s
Thanks To Marvin Levy
In 1962, he left MGM and was employed by the Blowitz, Thomas & & Canton PR company. There, he did promotion for films consisting of Charly ( 1968 ), They Shoot Horses, Do Not They? ( 1969 ), Fans and Other Complete Strangers ( 1970) and Strolling Tall ( 1973 ), all dispersed by Cinerama Releasing Corp.
( Levy was on the group that notoriously created a brand-new marketing project for Strolling Tall after the movie had a hard time in theaters. With less focus on the violence surrounding Constable Buford Pusser and more on his relationship with his other half, it ended up being an indie success story, earning an approximated $40 million– $287 million today– on a budget plan of about $500,000.)
In July 1974, Levy pertained to Los Angeles to work full-time for Cinerama. His stay with the supplier was interrupted after it combined with American International Pictures, however he rapidly landed at Columbia and dealt with movies consisting of Cabby ( 1976 ), The Deep ( 1977) and the very best image winner Kramer vs. Kramer ( 1979 ).
Spielberg was coming off his mega-hit Jaws ( 1975) when he initially satisfied Levy on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the 2 got along rather well. In 1982, he started to work solely for the filmmaker and his business. (In September 2019, he transitioned to a function of “senior consultant” at Amblin Partners.)
” The majority of Levy’s time,” Feinberg kept in mind, “is invested doing the dirty work– in tandem with studio PR and marketing partners– of crafting production notes, press sets, one-sheets and placing declarations, creating techniques for marketing and advertising and keeping in mind, while outlining Spielberg’s media looks, that a little of his customer can go a long method, whereas excessive can in fact backfire.”.
In 1963, Levy assisted star activists, consisting of Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Burt Lancaster, participate in the historical March on Washington. He got the press agents guild’s greatest honor, the Les Mason Award, in 1994.
Levy was on the Academy’s board of guvs for 23 years and a member of its PR branch given that 1969. He likewise served on the board of the Starlight Kid’s Structure.
Survivors include his other half of 73 years, Carol; their children, Don (likewise a press agent) and Doug; and his grand sons, Brian and Daniel. He was preceded in death by his sis, Jane.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at Mount Sinai in Los Angeles. Contributions is his memory might be made to Feeding America or Canine Companions.
Throughout his Governors Awards speech, Levy mentioned that he typically had a hard time to explain to some simply what he provided for a living.
” A lot of pals and relations outside the market actually had no hint, so I might never ever discuss the complete variety of what the task actually involves,” he stated. “However a minimum of now they understand I got an Oscar for it.”
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