Marvin Levy obit

Marvin Levy Dies: Steven Spielberg’s Longtime Publicist & Honorary Oscar Winner Was 96

 

He was not on the list.

Marvin Levy, Steven Spielberg’s longtime publicist, has died. He was 96.

Levy, a renowned marketing and communications executive, who received an honorary Oscar in 2018, died on April 7.

“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,” Spielberg said. “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.”

Spielberg continued, “To the media-and the world of exhibition, Marvin was the face of Amblin. We were opposite ends of the movie-making process. Every time I reached the end of production on a film, Marvin’s work had only begun. Through countless films, tv series, Amblin events, awards campaigns and our public relations strategy—this is where Marvin came alive. He loved his work—and was endlessly enthusiastic about our business. He was creative, innovative and respected for his knowledge and honesty. He was excited to figure how new and better ways to present films to audiences. As a result, he was the first and only publicist to receive an Academy Award. In awarding the honor, the Academy highlighted his “exemplary career in publicity that has brought films to the minds, hearts and souls of audiences all over the world.”

Spielberg credits Levy as part of the team responsible for the success of the films he worked on throughout the decades. Levy led promotional and awards campaigns for numerous of Spielberg’s own directorial works, including E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, The Color Purple, Lincoln and Bridge of Spies. Other influential films Levy worked on include Back to the Future and its sequels, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Gigi, Ben-Hur, Taxi Driver, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Men in Black, Deep Impact, Shrek and Gladiator. Five of them went on to win Best Picture.

On hearing of Levy’s passing, former AMPAS president Sid Ganis said in a statement to Deadline, “There was nobody…..nobody, past or present, better at the complicated business of movie marketing than Marvin! And while he was the very best at it he was the sweetest, most generous and engaging guy on the job.”

Levy was born in New York City in 1928. He got his start in communications during two years of Air Force service, handling advertising and public relations out of Michigan’s Selfridge Air Force Base.

Levy began his entertainment career in the late 1940s, first working on game shows with Robert G. Jennings and then the talk shows of Tex and Jinx McCrary. He next held roles at MGM’s New York publicity office, followed by major film PR agency Blowitz Thomas and Canton, and later Cinema Releasing, which brought him to California.

It was during his time as Columbia Pictures’ VP of Advertising, Publicity, & Promotion that Levy worked with Spielberg on Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977. Levy soon left Columbia to work exclusively alongside Spielberg, first at Amblin Entertainment and later at DreamWorks Studios.

In addition to an Academy Award, his career recognitions include the Publicists’ Guild’s highest honor, the Les Mason Award, which he won in 1994. He served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences for 23 years, spending much of that time as Chairman of the Public Relations Branch. He was an avid supporter of the Shoah Foundation, Righteous Persons Foundation, and Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Levy retired in 2024, at the age of 95.

 

Levy is survived by his wife of 73 years, Carol, their two sons, Don and Doug and his two grandsons, Brian and Daniel. He was preceded in death by his sister Jane.

 

The funeral will be held at Mount Sinai on Friday, April 11th at 10 a.m.

Additional Crew

Steven Spielberg in Spielberg (2017)

Spielberg

7.7

TV Movie

archivist: Amblin Partners

2017

 

Unmasking Zorro (2001)

Unmasking Zorro

7.9

Video

marketing: Amblin Entertainment

2001

 

The Making of 'Cape Fear' (2001)

The Making of 'Cape Fear'

6.7

Video

marketing: Amblin Entertainment

2001

 

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (2001)

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

7.2

Video

marketing: Amblin Entertainment (as Marvin Levy)

2001

 

The Blood of Others (1984)

The Blood of Others

5.3

TV Movie

publicist

1984

 

Peter Lorre, Ina Balin, John Carradine, Jerry Lewis, Phil Harris, Everett Sloane, and Keenan Wynn in The Patsy (1964)

The Patsy

6.2

physician: Mr. Lewis (uncredited)

1964

 

Jerry Lewis in The Bellboy (1960)

The Bellboy

6.5

physician: Mr. Lewis (uncredited)

1960

 

Thanks

Dustin Lance Black in Mama's Boy (2022)

Mama's Boy

7.9

special thanks

2022

 

West Side Story: A New Generation (2022)

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6.8

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2022

 

The Stories of West Side Story the Steven Spielberg Film (2022)

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6.0

Video

special thanks

2022

 

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind (2020)

Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind

7.1

TV Movie

special thanks

2020

 

Steven Spielberg and John Williams in Steven Spielberg & John Williams: The Adventure Continues (2017)

Steven Spielberg & John Williams: The Adventure Continues

Video

special thanks (as Marvin Levy)

2017

 

A Night at the Movies: George Lucas and the World of Fantasy Cinema (2014)

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7.3

TV Movie

special thanks

2014

 

Gremlins: From Gizmo to Gremlins - Creating the Creatures (2014)

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7.3

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2014

 

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck (2013)

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2013

 

John Milius in Milius (2013)

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7.4

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8.0

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special thanks

2012

 

A Night at the Movies: The Horrors of Stephen King (2011)

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2011

 

Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future (1985)

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2010

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Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future (1985)

The Physics of 'Back to the Future' with Dr. Michio Kaku

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2010

 

Jaws: The Inside Story (2010)

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2010

 

Warner at War (2008)

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2008

 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Indiana Jones 4: Pre-production

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2008

 

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Indiana Jones 4: The Return of a Legend

7.3

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2008

 

The Shark Is Still Working: The Impact & Legacy of 'Jaws' (2007)

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7.6

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2007

 

Munich: The On-Set Experience (2006)

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2006

 

Munich: The Mission - The Team (2006)

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7.1

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2006

 

Munich: The International Cast (2006)

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8.2

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2006

 

Munich: Portrait of an Era (2006)

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7.9

Video

special thanks

2006

 

Munich: Memories of the Event (2006)

Munich: Memories of the Event

7.9

Video

special thanks

2006

 

Munich: Editing, Sound and Music (2006)

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7.9

Video

special thanks

2006

 

The H.G. Wells Legacy (2005)

The H.G. Wells Legacy

5.6

Video

special thanks

2005

 

'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, East Coast - Exile (2005)

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5.0

Video

special thanks

2005

 

We Are Not Alone (2005)

We Are Not Alone

4.2

Video

special thanks

2005

 

Steven Spielberg and the Original 'War of the Worlds' (2005)

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6.0

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2005

 

Scoring 'War of the Worlds' (2005)

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6.2

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2005

 

Designing the Enemy: Tripods and Aliens (2005)

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4.0

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2005

 

'War of the Worlds': Revisiting the Invasion (2005)

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3.6

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2005

 

'War of the Worlds': Production Diaries, West Coast - War (2005)

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3.8

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3.4

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2005

 

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2005

 

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2005

 

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2005

 

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2005

 

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2004

 

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2004

 

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2004

 

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2004

 

'Saving Private Ryan': Looking Into the Past (2004)

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2004

 

'Saving Private Ryan': An Introduction (2004)

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2004

 

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2004

 

'Saving Private Ryan': Boot Camp (2004)

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2004

 

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6.1

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2004

 

Indiana Jones: Making the Trilogy (2003)

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2003

 

'Catch Me If You Can': Behind the Camera (2003)

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6.3

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2003

 

The E.T. Reunion (2002)

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6.7

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2002

 

Back to the Future: Making the Trilogy (2002)

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2002

 

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5.3

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2002

 

Final Report (2002)

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2002

 

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2002

 

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4.9

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2002

 

Deconstructing Precrime and Precogs (2002)

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5.2

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2002

 

'Minority Report': The Story, the Debate (2002)

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Video

special thanks

2002

 

'Minority Report': The Players (2002)

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5.5

Video

special thanks

2002

 

The World of 'Minority Report': An Introduction (2002)

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4.9

Video

special thanks

2002

 

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4.9

Video

special thanks

2002

 

Live at the Shrine! John Williams and the World Premiere of 'E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial': The 20th Anniversary (2002)

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6.3

Video

special thanks

2002

 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: 20th Anniversary Celebration (2002)

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6.9

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special thanks

2002

 

Creating A.I. (2002)

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Video

special thanks

2002

 

Lawrence of Arabia: A Conversation with Steven Spielberg (2000)

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6.7

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special thanks

2000

 

Great Performances (1971)

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7.9

TV Series

special thanks

2000

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Medal of Honor: Underground (2000)

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8.1

Video Game

special thanks

2000

 

Medal of Honor (1999)

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8.3

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special thanks

1999

 

Making the 'Lost World' (1997)

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6.3

Video

special thanks

1997

 

The Making of 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' (1996)

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7.6

Video

special thanks

1996

 

The Making of 'Jaws' (1995)

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7.9

Video

special thanks

1995

 

The Fantasy Film Worlds of George Pal (1986)

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7.4

grateful acknowledgment

1986

 

Self

Front Row Flynn (2018)

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4.3

TV Series

Self

2018

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

The Oscars (2019)

The Oscars

5.5

TV Special

Self - Honorary Award (archive footage)

2019

Partial filmography

 

 

Gigi (1958)

Ben-Hur (1959)

Taxi Driver (1976)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

The Deep (1977)

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Back to the Future Part III (1990)

Jurassic Park (1993)

Schindler's List (1993)

The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1996)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

American Beauty (1999)

Gladiator (2000)

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Munich (2005)

War Horse (2011)

Lincoln (2012)

Bridge of Spies (2015)

The Post (2017)