Producer Daniel Selznick, the last living testament to one of Hollywood's illustrious founding dynasties, passed away gracefully on August 1st, embraced by the tranquil surroundings of the Motion Picture & Television Fund's Country Home nestled in the verdant Woodland Hills of Los Angeles.
Selznick's life was a tale woven from the golden threads of showbiz royalty, growing up amidst the glamour of Beverly Hills as the younger son of "Gone With the Wind" maestro David O. Selznick and the stage-illuminating Irene Mayer Selznick. His grandfather, Louis B. Mayer, a larger-than-life Canadian immigrant, steered Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to the pinnacle of artistic excellence and commercial success during Hollywood's golden era of the 1930s and 40s.
As a teenager navigating the complexities of a shattered family, Daniel witnessed his parents' divorce and his father's remarriage to the Oscar-winning enchantress, Jennifer Jones. Yet, he forged his own path, becoming a stalwart defender of the arts and a vigilant guardian of his family's rich legacy.
For four illustrious years, Selznick reigned as a production executive at Universal Studios, where he crafted cinematic gems that resonated far beyond their time. Collaborating with his elder brother, Jeffrey Selznick (who preceded him in death in 1997), he produced the Peabody Award-winning 1988 documentary, "The Making of a Legend: 'Gone With the Wind,'" a testament to their shared passion and prowess.
Daniel Selznick's production credits glitter with an array of captivating projects, including the 1983 TV miniseries "Blood Feud," a taut tale of intrigue directed by Mike Newell and starring Robert Blake as the enigmatic Jimmy Hoffa and Cotter Smith as the formidable Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy. His portfolio also boasts the 1987 miniseries "Hoover vs. the Kennedys," the heart-pounding 1977 TV movie thriller "Night Drive" with Valerie Harper in the driver's seat, and the insightful 1981 docu-drama "Reagan's Way: Pathway to the Presidency."
Longtime director of the Louis B. Mayer Foundation and a beloved resident of MPTF's Country Home, Selznick's fingerprints are etched on the walls of the Louis B. Mayer Theater, which he had the privilege of overseeing its construction in 1967 and later addressing the audience at its revitalized opening in 2017.
"A beacon of intelligence, charm, sweetness, and boundless generosity," Selznick will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of the MPTF's residents and staff. His memoir, "Walking With Kings," a poignant narrative of his formative years as a "young prince of Hollywood," is poised to be a literary gem, set for publication next year by Alfred Knopf.
Married three times, Selznick leaves behind a legacy that transcends time, his passing marking the end of an era in Hollywood's storied history.
