[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 88 (Monday, June 20, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S3914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        REMEMBERING LAURA ZISKIN

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I ask my colleagues to join 
me in paying tribute to Laura Ellen Ziskin, one of Hollywood's most 
influential film producers, activists, and philanthropists. Laura 
Ziskin passed away on June 12, 2011, at her home in Santa Monica, CA, 
after a 7-year battle with cancer. She was 61 years old.
  A native of the San Fernando Valley, Laura Ziskin was born on March 
3, 1950, to Mae and Jay Ziskin. In 1973, Ziskin graduated from the 
University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and began 
working in the entertainment industry first as a game show writer, and 
then as a personal assistant to producer and director Jon Peters, with 
whom she would work on the 1976 Barbra Streisand remake of ``A Star Is 
Born.''
  Over the next three decades, Laura Ziskin became one of the world's 
most successful female producers. Ziskin's fame quickly grew with her 
production of 1985's ``Murphy's Romance,'' 1988's ``D.O.A.,'' 1990's 
megahit ``Pretty Woman,'' and 1991's ``What About Bob?'' Ziskins films 
were both critically acclaimed and well received, with ``As Good As It 
Gets,'' 1997, ``The Thin Red Line,'' 1998, ``Fight Club,'' 1999, and 
the recent blockbuster Spider-Man films. In 2002, Laura Ziskin would 
also become the first woman to ever produce the Academy Awards--again 
repeating the feat in 2007.
  Laura Ziskin devoted her time and celebrity to improving the lives of 
others. She gave her support by serving on the boards of organizations 
such as the National Council of Jewish Women and Education First and 
was honored by many others, such as the Big Sisters of Los Angeles, the 
Women's Image Network Award, the Producers Guild of America, City of 
Hope, and her own alma mater, USC's School of Cinematic Arts. I was 
also proud to present her with a ``Woman Making History'' Award for her 
wonderful work.
  When Ziskin was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, she immediately 
became heavily involved in creating a new model for cancer research. In 
2008, she founded the nonprofit Stand Up To Cancer, SU2C, in 
collaboration with friends and colleagues, Katie Couric and Sherry 
Lansing and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, among others. Ziskin 
used her film production skills to be a driving force for raising funds 
for cancer research and support services, including by producing 
television specials in 2008 and 2010 that aired on major international 
networks.
  Throughout her illness, Laura never quit either her professional or 
charitable work. She touched the lives of countless individuals and 
families who struggle with cancer by giving them hope that one day, 
there will be a cure. In one of her last blog postings, she urged 
others to take a stand. She wrote, ``Take a stand--for yourself, for a 
loved one . . . for anyone in the fight. Let's make everyone diagnosed 
with cancer a survivor.''
  Laura Ziskin is survived by her partner, Alvin Sargent, her daughter, 
Julia Barry, and her son-in-law, Eli Dansky.

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