Laura Ziskin |
LOS ANGELES -– San Fernando Valley native Laura Ziskin has paved her professional path through Hollywood as a television and film producer. She continues to lead her personal crusade in overcoming breast cancer and resuming the fight against cancer. She will continue along another avenue of success when she walks to the stage to accept the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s annual “Dave Winfield Humanitarian” Award at the Foundation’s 7th Annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation has helped baseball scouts in need due to job loss, illness or financial hardships over the past six years through the success of the annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular. Dennis Gilbert heads the foundation.
“Laura is a winner in Hollywood and in the game of life, helping to entertain and enrich the lives of others through her devoted pursuits,” Gilbert said. “A true leader, Laura has made her name with successful projects in front of the camera and behind the scenes as a cancer-fighting activist and fundraiser. The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation is pleased to honor Laura and we thank everyone who supports our beloved baseball scouts by attending our January event.”
Ziskin, 59, was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1973. She began her career writing for game shows before advancing herself as a personal assistant for Jon Peters and a development executive for his production company.
The first solo female producer of an Academy Awards telecast (in 2002 and again in 2007), Ziskin is most currently known for having produced the first three Spider-Man series of movies from 2002-07 (Spider-Man was the highest-grossing film at the box office in 2002). Spider-Man 4 is set to release in 2011. Ziskin’s breakthrough onto the next level in her career came when she executive produced Pretty Woman in 1990.
Ziskin’s production credits also include the Academy Award-winning As Good As It Gets (1997). The movie won seven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, and took home three Oscars, including Best Actor (Jack Nicholson) and Best Actress (Helen Hunt).
As the first and former president of 20th Century Fox’s subdivision, Fox 2000, and an independent producer – she produced To Die For (1995) with Nicole Kidman under the auspices of Laura Ziskin Productions – Ziskin formed Fogwood Films with actress Sally Field in 1984 and produced the movie hit, Murphy’s Romance (1985). She went on to enhance her name in show-business by producing such movies as No Way Out (1987) with Kevin Costner and D.O.A. (1988) with Dennis Quaid.
Ziskin was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in February 2004. In 2008, Ziskin took the reigns on developing and producing a three-network television special, Stand Up to Cancer, which raised money for accelerated cancer research.
Other honorees at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 2009 “In the Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular include Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller and the scout who discovered him, Cy Slapnicka, Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and former Los Angeles Dodgers star Manny Mota and his family.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 2008 honorees included Bill Bartholomay, the Buddy Bell family, Bobby Cox, Preston Gomez, Tony Gwynn, Larry King, Dave Winfield and scouts Ralph Avila, Stan Benjamin, Eddie Bockman, Joe DiCarlo, Tom Giordano, Al LaMacchia and Joe Lewis.
In years past, the event has honored many legendary baseball Hall of Fame players, managers, scouts, coaches and executives, including Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, and Cal Ripken, Jr., as well as Goose Gossage, Whitey Herzog, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch, the Boone Family, the Brett family, the Alou family, Major League Baseball executive Pat Gillick, the Boeckmanns, legendary baseball scouts George Genovese, Dave Garcia, Hank King, Gene Bennett, Mel Didier, Epy Guerrero, Moose Johnson, Lenny Yochim and the late Bob Zuk. Past attendees include: MLB Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig, Rod Carew, Tommy Lasorda, Frank McCourt, Arte Moreno, Jerry Reinsdorf, Lew Wolff, Mark Attanasio, Brady Anderson, Bret Saberhagen, Chase Utley, Darrell Evans, Don Newcombe, Barry Zito, Joe Borchard, Alyssa Milano, Don Johnson, Tom Arnold, Jane Seymour, James Keach, Michael McDonald, Donnie Most, Mary Hart and Kenny Loggins.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available to the public by calling 310-996-1188.
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