Former Academy President Richard Kahn Passes Away at 95

Richard Kahn, the former President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, passed away on Saturday, April 5, in Los Angeles at the age of 95.

“Our Dad had a kind and generous soul, a wry sense of humor, and was a wonderful father. We will miss him dearly,” said his daughters, Sharon Kahn and Lisa Kahn Feldstern.

“All of us at the Academy are deeply saddened to learn of Richard’s passing,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a joint statement. “Richard was a devoted member of the Academy and the film community at large. During his time on the board, both as President and as a governor for many years, he played a vital role in establishing traditions that remain today. His vision and leadership leave an indelible mark. He remained a friend to so many, and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Kahn’s illustrious career spanned six decades, with notable contributions to some of Hollywood's most iconic films. His work at Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer included landmark films such as The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Guns of Navarone, Lawrence of Arabia, A Man for All Seasons, Funny Girl, Oliver!, The Sunshine Boys, Network, and Clash of the Titans.

A member of the Marketing and Public Relations Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 1964, Kahn also served on its Branch Executive Committee for 15 years. He was elected to 12 years as an Academy governor and held one term as Academy President from 1988 to 1989. Kahn also served five terms as Vice President and one as Secretary. His tenure at the Academy was marked by several groundbreaking initiatives, including the establishment of the Academy’s new member receptions, now an annual global event. Kahn also chaired the Public Relations Coordinating Committee, responsible for creating the Academy’s first Nominees Luncheon in 1982.

Born in New Rochelle, New York, Kahn’s career began after he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. He served as a U.S. Navy officer during the Korean War before starting a two-decade tenure at Columbia Pictures. In 1975, he joined MGM, rising to president of MGM International and later executive vice president of marketing after MGM acquired United Artists in 1981.

In 1983, Kahn launched a film marketing consultancy with his wife, Marianne Kahn, and also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California’s Peter Stark Producing Program until 1989. He later became executive chairman of the Film Information Council (1985–1995) and served on the Board of the Will Rogers Memorial Fund from 1987 to 2001. In recognition of his innovative contributions to the entertainment industry, Kahn received the Hollywood Reporter’s Key Art Pioneer Award in 2000.

Kahn is survived by his two daughters, Sharon Kahn and Lisa Kahn Feldstern, his son-in-law, the Honorable Daniel Feldstern, and his grandson and his wife, Nick and Jenn Fasulo-Feldstern.