Publicist for films, music and TV

Howard Brandy, 79, a longtime entertainment publicist who got his start in pop music and eventually moved on to high-profile film campaigns, died Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after what his family said was a long illness.

Brandy worked to promote many films, including “The Last Emperor,” all of the “Police Academy” movies, “Young Frankenstein,” “Quest for Fire” and “My Favorite Year.”

He also handled the Academy Award campaigns for such movies as Woody Allen’s “Sweet and Lowdown” and Spanish director Pedro Almodovar’s “All About My Mother,” which won an Oscar for best foreign film of 1999.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 20, 1929, Brandy joined the Marines in the 1950s and was stationed at Camp Pendleton. After his discharge he stayed in California and began working in the music industry.

He represented such artists as Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, the Fifth Dimension, the Temptations, the Monkees, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Lionel Richie. He also headed publicity for A&M; Records and Motown Records.

Brandy also helped publicize TV shows, including working closely with “Rocky & Bullwinkle” creator Jay Ward in the 1960s to stir up interest in the various TV series that featured the animated characters.