Lois Burwell Resigns From Film Academy’s Board of Governors (Exclusive)

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Lois Burwell, a long-time makeup artist who earned an Oscar for her work on Braveheart and frequently collaborated with Steven Spielberg, has stepped down from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board due to personal matters, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Burwell began serving on the board as a representative for the make-up and hairstyling division in 2015. From 2017 onwards, she also held the position of vice president within the organization. An email was sent to members of this division on Wednesday afternoon by Howard Berger and Linda Flowers, who served alongside Burwell during her term, announcing her departure from the position.

Back in 2015, Burwell joined the board as a representative for the hair and makeup team. Starting in 2017, she became the vice president of the organization too. On Wednesday afternoon, an email was sent to members of this team by Howard Berger and Linda Flowers, who worked with Burwell during her time, informing them that she is leaving her position.

If an Academy governor resigns before their full term, the vacancy is usually filled by the person who received the second highest number of votes in the most recent election for that position. As stated by Berger and Flowers, Gerald Quist, a five-time Emmy winner with credits like ‘Mr. Holland’s Opus’ and ‘The Jackal’, will take over Burwell’s position as his runner-up and replacement.

The full text of the email appears below.

Dear Makeup and Hairstyling Branch members,

“It’s with regret that we announce Lois Burwell has stepped down from the Academy’s Board of Governors, citing personal matters. This decision takes effect immediately. We extend our warmest wishes to Lois and express our deep gratitude for her dedication to our branch over the years, as well as her long-standing service to the Academy.”

According to the rules set by our Academy, if a member of the Board of Governors steps down before their term ends, their position will be temporarily filled by the runner-up from the previous election for that role. We’re thrilled to announce that Gerald Quist will take on this role as our new branch governor, effective straight away. He will serve until the end of the current term, which concludes in the summer of 2027.

The bylaws of our Academy state that if a governor resigns before their term ends, their position will be filled by the second-place finisher from the most recent election for that role until the end of the original governor’s term. We are delighted to inform you that Gerald Quist has been appointed as our new branch governor, effective immediately, and he will serve out the rest of the term which concludes in the summer of 2027.

We’re looking forward to having everyone attend with us this coming Saturday, March 1st, at the Academy Museum. This is for our yearly event, Oscars Season: Nominees Highlight, where we celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of the five nominees.

All the best,
Howard and Linda

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2025-01-30 03:55