Producer-Publicist Walter Seltzer Dies

UPDATED

Producer and publicist Walter Seltzer died Friday of an age-related illness, according to the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF). The 96-year-old spent much of the '80s as a fundraiser for the organization and passed away at its retirement home in Woodland Hills, Calif., where he had lived for more than three years.

Seltzer was a publicist for films like Mutiny on the Bounty and Marty, and as part of MGM's publicity team, fed stories to gossip columnists about stars like Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.

In the '60s and '70s, he produced films for Marlon Brando and Charleton Heston's production companies, including Soylent Green, The Omega Man, Shake Hands With the Devil and One-Eyed Jacks.

Seltzer's work on behalf of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which cares for aging industry employees at its retirement home, took off in earnest by the '80s. He helped raise $60 million for the cause and was awarded its Silver Medallion for humanitarian achievement in 1986.

In an interview, Seltzer said, "I am proud that the Motion Picture & Television Fund is still around and is still serving the industry we all love. I hope that, in the future, it will continue to be underwritten by industry companies as well as individuals and generous corporations, so we can continue to provide unique services for our unique industry."