Bruce Davis, the longtime Executive Director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, passed away on September 5 in Los Angeles at the age of 83. During his tenure at the Academy, which began in 1989 and lasted until his 2011 retirement, Davis made significant contributions to the organization’s mission of preserving cinema history and culture.
Davis’s most notable achievements included instrumental work in establishing two major institutions dedicated to film preservation. He collaborated with Beverly Hills officials and Academy president Robert Wise to secure a historic 1928 building that would become the Margaret Herrick Library. Additionally, he overseeing the acquisition and conversion of a 1948 television studio in Hollywood into the Academy Film Archive, ensuring that important film materials would be safeguarded for future generations.
Before joining the Academy, Davis brought extensive experience in education and the arts, having chaired the theater department at Pennsylvania’s Juniata College, where he also founded the film program. His background included filmmaking studies at Columbia University. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Davis was remembered by Academy colleagues for his wit, writing abilities, and a cherished Friday lunch tradition where staff from different departments gathered for conversation.
After retiring, Davis authored “The Academy and the Award,” a comprehensive account of the Academy’s origins and Oscar history. He is survived by his wife Joann and four daughters. The family suggests donations be directed to Juniata College in his memory.
Originally reported by Variety →
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