Steven Miessner

Steven Paul Miessner (September 26, 1960 - July 29, 2009) was an American administrator of the Academy Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Miessner was nicknamed the "Keeper of the Oscars"[1] for his dedication to the administration of the golden statuette awarded during the film industry's most important award ceremony.[2]

Miessner joined the staff of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2002.[2] He became responsible for the upkeep, administration and security of the Oscar statues for the Academy Awards. His position was a year-round responsibility.[2] Miessner would take responsibility of the Oscar statuettes upon their arrival at the Academy from the R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago, which manufactures the awards.[2] Following their arrival, Miessner would enter each individual Oscar into a computer file to keep a record for the Academy.[2] He was then responsible for the Oscars' safety and security until the awards ceremony.[2] Miessner could be seen each Oscar night polishing and inspecting each statue with white gloves before they were handed out to recipients.[2]

Additionally, Miessner created a database and record of each Oscar that has ever been awarded by the Academy.[2] He functioned as a liaison between the Academy and R.S. Owens & Company, the foundry which makes the statues, when an older Oscar needed repair or refurbishment.[2] Miessner also worked as the executive assistant for both Academy President Sid Ganis and the organization's executive director Bruce Davis.[2] A spokesperson for the Academy described Miessner as "central to the day-to-day operations of the organization" in 2009.[2]

Steven Miessner died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on July 29, 2009, at the age of 48.[2] He was survived by his mother, Virginia, his sister and his brother.[2] He remained with the Academy until his death.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Passings: Steven Miessner". Los Angeles Times. 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Steven Miessner, 48; polished and prepared Oscar statuettes for the Academy Awards". Associated Press (Boston Globe). 2009-08-23. Retrieved 2009-08-08.
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