David Weitzner, a marketing executive known for his campaign work across Hollywood, passed away on September 1st in Calabasas, including “ET The Extra-Earth”, “This Is Spinal Tap” and “Fast Times at Lidgemont High.” He was 86 years old.
Born and raised in New York City, Weitzner began his career in entertainment marketing with Gray advertising, where he became the general manager of the company’s entertainment division. During his tenure at Gray Ads, Weitzner oversaw the accounts of ABC Pictures and Warner Brothers.
He was hired to lead global marketing at ABC Pictures and Edgar Scherick’s Palomar Pictures International, working on campaigns for groundbreaking films such as “They Shoot Shoot Horses Do not They”, “Sleuth” and “The Heartbreak Kid.”
After moving to Los Angeles in 1976, Weitzner became the vice president of global marketing for 20th Century Fox, directing campaigns for blockbuster films such as “Star Wars” and “Alien.”
In 1979, Weitzner was hired as president of Universal Studios’ Worldwide Marketing, running major campaigns for films such as “The Blues Brothers” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” He later returned as president of Worldwide Marketing at the MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Services Group, overseeing all marketing for the theme parks at Hollywood and Orlando, Universal City Walk and Universal Studios Cinema.
While leading marketing at the embassy, he oversaw the campaigns for the indie hits “This Is Spinal Tap” and “Eddie and the Cruisers.”
After leaving Universal, Weitzner taught entertainment business as an associate professor at the University of Southern California’s Faculty of Film and Arts, where he became a longtime director of the USC Summer Program. In 2016, Weitzner became chairman of the Summer Production Programme for Mark Barnett’s Donation Committee.
Weitzner is a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences and previously chaired the MPAA’s Advertising and Advertising Committee from 1979 to 1981.
Weitzner was survived by his wife Joan, his children Jonathan Rosenthal, Dana Weitzner Bergman, Jason Weitzner and grandchildren Sam, Tyler and Chloe.
