Paul Radin, 88; Movie Producer, Talent Agent and Advertising Man

Paul B. Radin, who produced the Academy Award-winning movie “Born Free” and the television series of the same name during a 60-year career that included producing the advertising campaign that launched the Hollywood career of Hedy Lamarr, has died. He was 88.

Radin, a resident of Montecito, died of congestive heart failure Oct. 18 in Santa Barbara.

The son of a pharmacist, Radin was born in Manhattan in 1913. While still in high school, he began doing advertising layouts for Columbia Pictures and later majored in advertising at the New York University School of Commerce, from which he graduated in 1933.

After a brief stint with an ad agency, he became assistant advertising manager for Columbia Pictures in New York City. He later became advertising director for United Artists, for which he produced the ad campaign for the 1938 film “Algiers,” starring Charles Boyer and Lamarr.

During World War II, he served in the Office of War Information as a civilian. He became film chief for the Middle East and the Balkans, serving in the Psychological Warfare Branch of Allied Force Headquarters as well as the secretary of the Italian Film Commission.

Returning to advertising after the war, Radin created ad campaigns for many movies, including Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Howard Hughes’ “The Outlaw” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Monsieur Verdoux.”

Radin then became a talent agent for the Sam Jaffe Agency. His clients included Eleanor Roosevelt and Yul Brynner, with whom he later created a motion picture production partnership.

Radin’s first major movie as producer was “Born Free,” which was based on Joy Adamson’s true story about raising a lioness and which he optioned for $250. The 1966 film, shot in Kenya, won two Oscars--for best original score and title song. In 1990, Radin received the Fund for Animals Genesis Award for the movie’s “message of hope and compassion and for being the very first feature film to focus on a wild animal’s right to live free as nature intended.”

Radin also produced the 1972 sequel, “Living Free,” and the 1974 “Born Free” TV series.

Among his other credits, Radin co-produced “The Blue Bird,” a 1976 movie shot in Russia starring Elizabeth Taylor, which was the first film collaboration between the United States and Russia. He served as executive producer of “The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd,” a 1980 TV movie, and produced “The Wizard,” a 1986-87 TV series.

During his retirement, Radin served on Santa Barbara’s Film Commission.

He is survived by his third wife, Jane Hewitt Radin; a sister, Babs Greenstone of Tamarac, Fla.; a nephew, Martin Vogel of Palmdale; stepsons Richard Runyon of Los Angeles and John Remsberg of San Diego; stepdaughter Susan Grant of San Francisco; four granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Santa Barbara Foundation/Born Free Foundation, 15 E. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.