Richard Kahn, the esteemed former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, whose tenure coincided with the controversial 1989 Oscars notorious for its ill-fated Rob Lowe-Snow White musical extravaganza, has passed away at the age of 95. Kahn, who made history as the first Academy head to hail from its marketing and public relations division, breathed his last on Saturday in Los Angeles, according to his daughters, Sharon Kahn and Lisa Kahn Feldstern. "Our father was a compassionate soul with a dry wit and an extraordinary parenting prowess. His absence will leave an indelible void in our lives," they mourned in a heartfelt statement.
After honing his skills at Columbia Pictures and MGM, Kahn succeeded director Robert Wise as the Academy's president in August 1988, serving a pivotal one-year term before actor Karl Malden took the helm. During his tenure as a PR member, Kahn's ingenuity shone through with the inception of the glamorous Oscar Nominees Luncheon in 1982 and, subsequently, the cherished tradition of presenting each honoree with a custom-made sweatshirt adorned with the Oscar logo.
The 1989 Academy Awards ceremony, produced by Allan Carr, garnered a staggering 29.8 rating but will forever be etched in infamy for its over-the-top, cringe-worthy 15-minute opening act featuring Lowe and a Snow White impersonator. The spectacle included dancing tables, Merv Griffin belting out his 1950 hit "I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts," and a parade of veteran screen stars, culminating in an abysmal rendition of "Proud Mary" by Lowe (a novice singer) and Snow White. "It was a love-it-or-hate-it affair," Kahn reminisced.
In the aftermath, the Walt Disney Co. sued the Academy, claiming the show had "desecrated and irreparably tarnished" Snow White's image. The Academy issued an apology for the unauthorized use of the character and for "inadvertently giving the impression that Disney had endorsed or participated in" the production number.
Subsequently, a coalition of 17 prominent Hollywood luminaries, including Julie Andrews, Stanley Donen, Sidney Lumet, William Friedkin, Larry Gelbart, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Paul Newman, Gregory Peck, and Billy Wilder, penned a scathing letter lambasting the event as "an embarrassment to both the Academy and the entire motion picture industry. It is unacceptable and disgraceful that the pinnacle of cinematic excellence should be acknowledged in such a degrading manner."
In response, Kahn formed an Oscar telecast committee tasked with uncovering the root causes and devising future strategies to avoid such debacles. Born on August 19, 1929, in New Rochelle, New York, Kahn embarked on a two-decade journey in advertising and publicity at Columbia Pictures after graduating from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and serving as a U.S. Navy officer during the Korean War. At Columbia, he played a pivotal role in marketing iconic films such as "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957), "The Guns of Navarone" (1961), "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb" (1964), "A Man for All Seasons" (1966), "Funny Girl" (1968), and "Oliver!" (1968).
In 1975, Kahn embarked on his journey with MGM, scaling the corporate ladder to become the president of MGM International and subsequently the executive vice president of marketing for the merged entity of MGM and United Artists following the latter's acquisition in 1981. At the helm, he orchestrated marketing campaigns for iconic films such as "The Sunshine Boys" (1975), "Network" (1976), "Fame" (1980), "Clash of the Titans" (1981), and numerous other notable productions.
Since 1964, Kahn has been an integral part of the Academy's marketing and public relations branch, contributing to its executive committee for a remarkable 15 years. His dedication extended further as he served as an Academy governor for 12 years, including five terms as vice president and one as secretary. Kahn was instrumental in initiating the Academy's new member receptions, which have since become an annual global event.
In 1983, Kahn, alongside his wife Marianne, ventured into the film marketing consultancy arena, while also serving as an adjunct professor at USC's Peter Stark Producing Program until 1989. From 1985 to 1995, he led the Film Information Council as its executive chairman and was a board member of the Will Rogers Memorial Fund from 1987 to 2001. In recognition of his creative contributions to the industry, Kahn was honored with "The Hollywood Reporter's" Key Art Pioneer Award in 2000.
Kahn once revealed to "THR" that his all-time favorite movie was the timeless classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood" from 1938. Besides his daughters, Kahn is survived by his son-in-law Daniel, his grandson Nick, and Nick's wife Jenn. Kahn and Marianne shared a loving union for 63 years until her passing in December 2016.
In a joint statement, AMPAS chiefs Bill Kramer and Janet Yang eulogized Kahn as "a steadfast member of the Academy and the broader film community." They continued, "Throughout his tenure on the board, both as our president and a governor for numerous years, Kahn played a pivotal role in establishing traditions that endure to this day. His visionary leadership and indelible mark will be forever remembered. He remained a cherished friend to many, and our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time."
