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The Producers Guild of America tomorrow will honor the late producer and studio executive Laura Ziskin with a walk-a-thon benefiting the organization she co-founded, Stand Up To Cancer, as well as the PGA Foundation. The walk is “a tribute to Ziskin’s work in the industry and her humanitarian efforts in working to shape a patient-centric vision for cancer treatment.” The event is timed to take place on the birthday of the legendary producer, who died last year after a battle with breast cancer.
PGA Executive Director Vance Van Petten will be on hand tomorrow to share stories and quotes from Ziskin, along with her surviving husband and daughter, who will participate in the walk.
“Laura was the heart and soul of Stand Up To Cancer,” said organization co-founder Sherry Lansing at the time of her death last June. “She dreamed big, and attacked every challenge with creativity, passion, perseverance and intelligence.”
“Laura was one of the most courageous people I’ve ever known,” said Katie Couric, another co-founder. “Her fearlessness in the face of this relentless killer inspires everyone on the SU2C team to redouble our efforts to make cancer history.”
Ziskin began her storied producing career with critical successes Murphy’s Romance and No Way Out in the 1980’s, before moving to an executive role on the breakout hit Pretty Woman for Touchstone. After scoring more successes with What About Bob? and Gus Van Sant’s To Die For, Ziskin was appointed first president of newly formed Fox 2000, where she shepherded such projects as Courage Under Fire, One Fine Day and the Oscar-nominated As Good as It Gets.
After moving to Columbia Pictures, Ziskin produced megahit franchise builder Spider-Man, and went on to produce two sequels for Columbia, breaking box office records along the way. She was at work on the reboot The Amazing Spider-Man at the time of her death.
The walk-a-thon, which is open to Producers Guild members and the general public, is a 5K (3.1 miles) over a mix of paved walkway and grass. Continental breakfast for the event will be provided by Doughboys.
Cheviot Hills Park
2551 Motor Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90064
Registration: 9am
Walk begins: 10am
Registration Fee: $35
