Marvin Worth

Marvin Worth (June 6, 1925 – April 22, 1998) was an American film producer, screenwriter and actor. His efforts to bring the biography of Malcolm X to the big screen started in 1967, when he purchased the rights to The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and eventually led to the production of the 1972 documentary, for which he received an Oscar nomination. Later on, he would produce Malcolm X, with director Spike Lee. He was nominated for an Oscar for producing Lenny in 1974.

Early life and career Worth's career began at a very early age when he began promoting jazz concerts, which led to relationship with many artists. At one time, he managed the musical careers of Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday. Later, Worth's employment as an agent branched into comedy, and he took on contentious comedian Lenny Bruce. In the 1950s, he forged a partnership with Arne Sultan and began writing material for Bruce. The duo went on to pen the scripts for Three on a Couch and Boys' Night Out and the story for Promise Her Anything. In 1958, Worth won a Peabody Award for his writing on The Steve Allen Show.

In 1971, Worth brought the story of Lenny Bruce to Broadway in the production Lenny, which won a Tony Award for its star, Cliff Gorman.(Internet Broadway Database) In 1974 the movie version of Lenny directed by Bob Fosse was released and received multiple Academy Award nominations. For the remainder of his career, Worth continued to produce biopics including the 1979 film The Rose (loosely based on Janis Joplin), the 1996 television movie Norma Jean & Marilyn, the 1998 television movie Gia, and the 2001 television movie James Dean.

Personal life and death Worth was married to his wife Joan, an artist, for 44 years. They had three children. On April 22, 1998, Worth died of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma, a form of lung cancer, in Los Angeles.

Selected filmography He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film Year Film Notes 1970 Where's Poppa? 1974 Lenny 1977 Fire Sale 1979 The Rose 1980 Up the Academy 1982 Soup for One 1984 Unfaithfully Yours Rhinestone Falling in Love 1987 Less than Zero 1988 Patty Hearst 1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil 1990 Flashback 1992 Malcolm X 1996 Diabolique Final film as a producer

As an actor

Year Film Role 1977 Fire Sale Milton

As writer

Year Film Notes 1962 Boys' Night Out 1965 Promise Her Anything 1966 Three on a Couch 1979 The Rose 1989 See No Evil, Hear No Evil

Miscellaneous crew

Year Film Role 1984 Rhinestone Presenter

Television Year Title Credit Notes Other notes 1966 Vacation Playhouse 1971 The Sheriff Executive producer Television film 1979 Where's Poppa? Executive producer Television pilot 1992 Running Mates Television film 1996 Norma Jean & Marilyn Executive producer Television film 1998 Gia Executive producer Television film Criminal Law Television film 2001 James Dean Executive producer Television film

As writer

Year Title Notes 1956 Stanley Washington Square 1957 The Polly Bergen Show General Motors 50th Anniversary Show Television special 1958 The Dinah Shore Chevy Show 1959−60 The Steve Allen Show 1960 The Chevy Show 1961 The New Steve Allen Show 1962 The Steve Allen Playhouse 1963−64 The Judy Garland Show 1965 Get Smart 1966 The Milton Berle Show

Script and continuity department

Year Title 1963 The Judy Garland Show

Thanks

Year Title Role Notes 1993 But... Seriously Thanks Documentary

Award nominations Year Award Result Category Film or series 1973Academy AwardNominated Best Documentary, Features Malcolm X (Shared with Arnold Perl) 1975 Best Picture Lenny 1998 Emmy Award Outstanding Made for Television Movie Gia (Shared with James D. Brubaker, David R. Ginsburg, and Ilene Kahn) 1985 Golden Raspberry Award Worst Picture Rhinestone (Shared with Howard Smith)