Marvin Levy, public-relations mastermind behind Hollywood’s Oscar campaigns, has died at 96. He was born on November 16, 1928, in New York, the son of Max R. Levy and Edna Levy. In more than 70 years of practice, he reshaped the world around us. Today, Levy has established herself as one of the most powerful, in-demand public relations executives, both within the film industry and beyond. Yet he contributed enormously to the success of some of filmdom’s most iconic films.
Throughout his career, Levy worked closely with legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg, notably on the 1977 sci-fi classic “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” Combined with his expertise and education in advertising and publicity this took him to the position of Vice President of Advertising, Publicity, & Promotion for Columbia Pictures. There, he led thousands of promotional campaigns for Spielberg’s productions.
A Legacy of Iconic Films
Levy’s impact on the film industry reached well beyond just his accomplishments with Spielberg. He led marketing efforts for a multitude of critically acclaimed films, including “E.T.,” “Jurassic Park,” “Schindler’s List,” and “Saving Private Ryan.” His visionary marketing efforts were key to the success of all these films. Consequently, he became known as an unrivaled master of public relations.
In addition to his work on Spielberg’s projects, Levy was involved with important films like “The Color Purple,” “Lincoln,” “Bridge of Spies,” “Back to the Future,” “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” and “Gladiator.” His deep portfolio was a testament to his great talent and mastery of the complicated game of film promotion and awards campaign.
Recognitions and Honors
The change Levy brought to industry was impossible to ignore. In 2018, he became the first and only marketing or public relations professional to win an honorary Oscar, a testament to his significant contributions to cinema. Previously, in 1994, he was awarded The Publicists’ Guild’s highest honor, the Les Mason Award.
Levy dedicated 23 years to his service on the Academy’s board of governors. In addition to his many awards, he served for many years as chairman of the public relations branch of the His leadership and vision marketed films for breadth and depth, fundamentally changing how deeply and widely films were promoted.
A Committed Philanthropist
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Levy was known for his philanthropy. He was a strong supporter of the Shoah Foundation, Righteous Persons Foundation, and the Starlight Children’s Foundation. His dedication to service was a marker of both his character and values, both in life and today.
Steven Spielberg commented on Levy’s passing, saying, “Marvin’s passing is a huge loss for me and our industry writ large. There are many talented PR executives, but Marvin was one of a kind.” He further added, “For over 50 years, he was a deeply loyal and exceptional collaborator who was respected and appreciated by all those who were lucky enough to learn from his counsel. When it came to handling the press, he had no peer.”