David Weitzner, The Marketing Mastermind Behind ‘Star Wars’ & ‘E.T.’, Dies at 86 — What Secret Hollywood Star Power Did He Hold?
Added on September 11, 2025 inMovie News Cards
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Ever wonder if the stars sprinkle a little marketing magic on Hollywood blockbusters? Well, David Weitzner might just be the cosmic proof. This marketing maestro, who recently passed away at 86, was the wizard behind the ad campaigns of legendary films like Star Wars, E.T., and This Is Spinal Tap. Born under the celestial canopy of New York City’s hustle, Weitzner rose through the ranks from Grey Advertising to leading global campaigns at studios like 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures. His knack for making movies shine wasn’t just luck—maybe a bit of Mercury’s communication charm worked its way into those box office numbers. Beyond the glitz, he shaped minds at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts and even earned nods from a president or two for his philanthropic hustle. So, could the cosmos have teamed up with this marketing genius to light up the silver screen? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just stellar talent and relentless grit. Either way, his story is one for the stars. LEARN MORE
David Weitzner, a top Hollywood marketing executive who oversaw campaigns for such acclaimed films as They Shoot Horses Don’t They, Star Wars, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial and This Is Spinal Tap, has died. He was 86.
Weitzner died Sept. 1 at his home in Calabasas, it was announced by the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he spent decades teaching a Business of Entertainment class as an adjunct professor.
Raised in New York City, Weitzner began his entertainment career at Grey Advertising in Manhattan, where he rose to vice president and G.M. of its entertainment division and handled the Warner Bros. and ABC Pictures accounts.
Weitzner was hired away to head worldwide marketing at ABC and Edgar Scherick’s Palomar Pictures International, and he steered the campaigns of such films as They Shoot Horses Don’t They (1969), Sleuth (1972), The Heartbreak Kid (1972) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974).
In 1976, he moved to Los Angeles and became vp worldwide marketing at 20th Century Fox, where he helped oversee the campaigns of blockbusters including Star Wars (1977), Alien (1979) and Breaking Away (1979).
He was hired as president of worldwide marketing for Universal Pictures in 1979 and supervised campaigns for movies including The Blues Brothers (1980), Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980), E.T.: The Extraterrestrial (1982) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982).
Heading marketing at Embassy Pictures, Weitzner led marketing efforts for Eddie and the Cruisers (1983) and This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and launched Ingmar Bergman’s Fanny and Alexander (1982), which won the Golden Globe for best foreign film, in the U.S.
When Embassy was put up for sale, he briefly returned to head marketing at Fox, where he supervised Romancing the Stone (1984) and Cocoon (1985).
Weitzner was tapped as head of worldwide marketing at Jerry Weintraub’s new public company Weintraub Entertainment Group, and they acquired Luc Besson’s The Big Blue (1988).
He returned to Universal as president of worldwide marketing for the MCA/Universal Studios Recreation Services Group, a post he held until 1998. There, he oversaw marketing for the theme parks in Hollywood and Orlando, Universal CityWalk and the Universal Studios Cinemas, then the top-grossing motion picture complex in the U.S.
After Universal, he taught that Business of Entertainment class and went on to become a longtime director of the school’s summer program and, in 2016, chairholder of the Mark Burnett Endowed Chair for the summer production program.
Meanwhile, he was consulting on marketing and strategy for corporate and entertainment clients including Honda Motors, PepsiCo, Philips Electronics North America, the AFI and the Children’s Television Workshop.
Weitzner advocated on behalf of the Landmark School for the Learning Disabled and was recognized for that by then-Los Angeles mayor Richard Riordan. He also was saluted by President Clinton for his efforts on behalf of the Red Cross.
A longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, he served as chairman of the MPAA’s Advertising/Publicity Committee from 1979-81.
Survivors include his wife, Joan; his children, Jonathan, Dana and Jason; and his grandchildren, Sam, Tyler, and Chloe.
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