Oscar-Winning Publicist Marvin Levy Dies at 96

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Marvin Levy, known for managing public relations for over four decades on behalf of Steven Spielberg and his movies, passed away at the age of 96, as confirmed by an announcement from Amblin’s publicists.

Levy, who worked for MGM in New York and Columbia Pictures in Hollywood, first collaborated with Spielberg on the movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977). This quiet executive then developed a mentor-like role for Spielberg, providing guidance to the filmmaker, earning him the nickname “Spielberg Whisperer.”

Levy started working with Spielberg during the production of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” in 1977. He worked for MGM in New York and Columbia Pictures in Hollywood, but his most notable role was that of a counselor to Spielberg, which earned him the nickname “Spielberg Whisperer.

At the Governors Awards in November 2018, Tom Hanks highlighted that Levy had been an advisor on several films for Spielberg, such as E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), the Academy Award-winning Schindler’s List (1993), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Lincoln (2012).

Currently, it’s safe to say that all these films are excellent, yet I believe none of us here would have been inclined to watch them if not for Marvin Levy’s hard work,” Tom Hanks said playfully, just as the publicist stepped onto the stage to receive his Oscar.

In his acceptance speech, Levy emphasized, “Our work should be centered around participating in something positive; it must serve a purpose.” He credits Steven Spielberg for this lesson as he has consistently viewed him as a storyteller, and so do we all within the realm of public relations.

It wasn’t until Levy that a member from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ branch had not previously received an honorary Oscar, with Richard Kahn and Cheryl Boone Isaacs being among its presidents prior to him.

Scott Feinberg from THR Awards Analysis stated that Levy, whose skills span almost every facet of his field, is an ideal choice for the Academy as he has consistently excelled and upheld the profession’s reputation.

In July 2024, Marvin will be stepping down (or leaving his position). Back then, Spielberg acknowledged that Marvin has played a crucial role in both his personal and professional journey, stating that this sentiment doesn’t fully capture their connection.

On Tuesday, Spielberg said in a statement:

Marvin’s departure is a significant loss for me personally and our industry as a whole. While there are numerous talented PR professionals, Marvin stood out uniquely. For more than five decades, he demonstrated unwavering loyalty and exceptional teamwork that earned him respect and admiration from everyone fortunate enough to benefit from his advice. In dealing with the press, he was peerless. To the media and the exhibition world, Marvin represented Amblin like no other.

In our line of work, Marvin and I occupied different stages in filmmaking. While my role concluded at the end of production on a movie, Marvin’s journey was just starting. He thrived during the post-production phase, handling everything from films and TV shows to Amblin events, awards campaigns, and public relations strategies. His passion for our business was unwavering, and he constantly brought new ideas and approaches to the table. Known for his creativity, innovation, and honesty, Marvin was respected in the industry. He was always eager to discover fresh and improved methods for showcasing films to audiences. This relentless pursuit of excellence led him to become the first and only publicist to receive an Academy Award.

As a gamer, I’ve been fortunate to have you, Marvin, as a companion for all these years. You never failed to bring a chuckle or keep the corners of my lips turned up with your endless smiles. We’ll deeply miss you, old friend. Your spirit will forever reside in our hearts, and the memories we shared will continue to put a smile on our faces.

Born on November 16, 1928, in New York City and growing up on the East Side of Manhattan, Levy completed his education at NYU in 1949. Subsequently, he landed a researcher role for a television quiz show. However, he was let go when a contestant swiftly answered a question he had crafted, leading to his dismissal.

After being let go by Tex McCrary and his wife Jinx Falkenburg, who hosted two radio shows daily and had a column in the New York Herald Tribune, I found myself out of work when their business took a downturn. However, McCrary wrote me an impressive recommendation letter that eventually secured me a position in the “advertising, publicity, and exploitation” department at MGM.

Under the guidance of his supervisor Howard Dietz, who was both a lyricist and publicist, Levy assisted MGM clients in gaining visibility when they visited New York. Furthermore, he played a part in the successful campaigns for awards that eventually led to the best picture winners of 1958, “Gigi”, and 1959, “Ben-Hur”.

In the year 1962, he parted ways with MGM and started working for the Blowitz, Thomas & Canton Public Relations agency. At this firm, he handled publicity for films such as “Charly” (1968), “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” (1969), “Lovers and Other Strangers” (1970), and “Walking Tall” (1973). All these movies were distributed by Cinerama Releasing Corporation.

(Levy was part of the group that developed a successful marketing strategy for the movie ‘Walking Tall’. Initially, the film had underperformed in cinemas. However, they shifted focus from the violent aspects involving Sheriff Buford Pusser to his personal relationship with his wife. This change led to its independent success, earning an estimated $40 million ($237 million in current value) on a budget of approximately half a million dollars.)

In the summer of 1974, Levy moved to Los Angeles for a full-time job at Cinerama. However, his tenure with the distributor was ended prematurely due to its merger with American International Pictures. Yet, he swiftly found himself at Columbia and contributed to films such as “Taxi Driver” (1976), “The Deep” (1977), and the Oscar-winning film “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979).

After achieving success with his blockbuster movie “Jaws” in 1975, Spielberg encountered Levy during the production of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” The two hit it off well. From 1982 onwards, Spielberg dedicated his work solely to the filmmaker and their companies. As of September 2019, he took on a new role as a senior advisor at Amblin Partners.

As a devoted admirer, I’d say a large portion of Levy’s days are dedicated to the nitty-gritty tasks, working closely with studio PR and marketing allies. This includes creating production notes, press kits, one-sheets, and positioning statements, strategizing for advertising and marketing, and ensuring, as I plan Spielberg’s media engagements, that a touch of his influence can have significant impact, while being mindful not to overdo it, as too much might actually be counterproductive.

In 1963, Levy assisted notable activists such as Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and Burt Lancaster in participating in the significant March on Washington. He was bestowed with the Les Mason Award, the highest honor given by the publicists guild, in 1994.

Levy has been a part of the Academy’s governing body for an impressive 23 years, and he joined their Public Relations division way back in 1969. Additionally, he spent time serving on the board of the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Living on are his beloved wife Carol, after 73 years of marriage, as well as their sons Donald (a fellow publicist) and Douglas. Additionally, grandsons Brian and Daniel remain. His dear sister Jane has already departed before him.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. this coming Friday at Mount Sinai, located in Los Angeles. Instead of sending flowers, consider making a donation in his honor to either Feeding America or Canine Companions.

At the Governors Awards ceremony, Levy admitted that he frequently found it challenging to explain to certain people exactly what his job entailed.

He mentioned that since many of his non-industry acquaintances were unaware of the scope of his job, it was challenging to fully convey its depth. However, now that he’s won an Oscar for it, they finally understand the significance of what he does.

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2025-04-09 04:55