Leonard Morpurgo, International Film Publicist, Dies at 93

Leonard Morpurgo, a London-born publicist whose career spanned more than five decades, died of cancer on August 12 at age 93. He was born on November 28, 1932, and spent his professional life shaping the global promotion of countless films for studios such as Universal, Columbia Pictures, Rogers & Cowan, CBS Theatrical Films and Lorimar Pictures. In his final months he pursued needlepoint art, exhibiting pieces in a virtual-reality gallery. Survivors include his wife Elena-Beth Kaye, twin sons Benjamin and Thierry, and grandchildren Violet, Oona and Lucien. Details about a celebration of life will be announced later.

Deadline Hollywood

Morpurgo began in newspapers before moving into film publicity, eventually serving as director of European publicity and promotion for Columbia Pictures and later as international vice president at Rogers & Cowan. He held senior roles at Universal Studios and was a longtime vice president at Weissman/Markovitz Communications. His fluency in several languages and reputation as a “global perspective” strategist made him a fixture at festivals and markets worldwide. In 2009 he published the memoir *Of Kings and Queens and Movie Stars*, recounting encounters with icons such as Cary Grant, Steve McQueen and Omar Sharif. He was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, regularly serving on its International Feature Film Committee, and also belonged to BAFTA Los Angeles. In 2022 he was nominated for the International Cinematographers Guild’s Les Mason Award for Achievement in Publicity, recognizing his longstanding contributions to the profession.

Variety Magazine

• “Leonard brought uncommon experience, intelligence and perspective to every campaign and every conversation,” — Weissman, collaborator and president

Deadline Hollywood

The firm announced that a celebration of life for Morpurgo will be scheduled, with further details to be released in the coming weeks.

Hollywood Reporter