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Murray Weissman dies at 90; Hollywood publicist specialized in Oscar best-picture campaigns

Murray Weissman, who represented dozens of best-picture Oscar contenders along with hit shows such as “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men,” has died at age 90.

Murray Weissman, who represented dozens of best-picture Oscar contenders along with hit shows such as “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men,” has died at age 90.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)
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Murray Weissman, a veteran Hollywood publicist who worked on Oscar campaigns for such films as “Dances with Wolves” and “Shakespeare in Love,” has died.

Weissman’s son-in-law and business partner, Rick Markovitz, said Weissman died Monday of pancreatic cancer. He was 90.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, Weissman worked as a publicist for ABC and CBS. He moved to movies in the mid-1960s and oversaw Universal’s release of “Jaws” in 1975.

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He began specializing in awards campaigns in the 1990s, representing dozens of best-picture Oscar contenders along with hit shows such as “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men.”

An active member of the film and television academies, Weissman’s many clients and friends feted him last month after learning of his cancer diagnosis. Besides Markovitz, Weissman is survived by his wife, daughter, son and three grandchildren.

news.obits@latimes

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