A. Golitzen, 97; Led Art Direction on 300-Plus Films, Shared 3 Oscars

Alexander Golitzen, who oversaw art direction on more than 300 films and shared Academy Awards for three of them -- “Phantom of the Opera” (1943), “Spartacus” (1960) and “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962) -- has died. He was 97.

Golitzen died July 26 of congestive heart failure at a healthcare center in San Diego, said Cynthia Garn, his daughter.

Born in Moscow, Golitzen fled the Russian revolution with his family, going to Siberia and then China, and finally to Seattle. He graduated from high school there, and after obtaining a degree in architecture from the University of Washington, moved to Los Angeles, where he became an assistant to MGM art director Alexander Toluboff, a fellow Russian. He later assisted Richard Day at United Artists.

Beginning in 1939, Golitzen worked on many films with producer Walter Wanger, and in 1942 he became a unit art director and then supervising art director at Universal, where he oversaw dozens of productions over the next 30 years.

Golitzen earned his first Oscar nomination on “Foreign Correspondent” (1940), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Three years later, he shared the award with John B. Goodman for “Phantom.”

He also was nominated for Academy Awards for his work on “Sundown” (1941), “Arabian Nights” (1942), “The Climax” (1944), “Flower Drum Song” (1961), “That Touch of Mink” (1962), “Gambit” (1966), “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (1967), “Sweet Charity” (1969), “Airport” (1970) and “Earthquake” (1974).

Among his other notable films were two in the 1940s -- Fritz Lang’s “Scarlet Street” and Max Ophuls’ “Letter From an Unknown Woman.” He also art-directed several Abbott and Costello films in the 1950s, and he designed the set for the Oscar show several times.

In addition to his daughter, Golitzen is survived by his wife of 72 years, Frances; one son, Peter; five grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.