Marvin Worth (June 6, 1925 – April 22, 1998) was an American film producer, screenwriter and actor. His efforts to bring the biography ofMalcolm X to the big screen started in 1967, when he purchased the rights toThe Autobiography of Malcolm X, and eventually led to the production of the1972 documentary, for which he received anOscar nomination. Later on, he would produceMalcolm X, with directorSpike Lee. He was nominated for an Oscar for producingLenny in 1974.

Worth's career began at a very early age when he began promoting jazz concerts, which led to relationship with many artists. At one time, he managed the musical careers ofCharlie Parker andBillie Holiday. Later, Worth's employment as an agent branched into comedy, and he took on contentious comedianLenny Bruce. In the 1950s, he forged a partnership withArne Sultan and began writing material for Bruce. The duo went on to pen the scripts forThree on a Couch andBoys' Night Out and the story forPromise Her Anything. In 1958, Worth won aPeabody Award for his writing onThe Steve Allen Show.^[1]

In 1971, Worth brought the story of Lenny Bruce to Broadway in the productionLenny, which won aTony Award for its star,Cliff Gorman.(Internet Broadway Database)^[1][2] In 1974 the movie version of Lenny directed by Bob Fosse was released and received multiple Academy Award nominations. For the remainder of his career, Worth continued to produce biopics including the 1979 filmThe Rose (loosely based onJanis Joplin), the 1996 television movieNorma Jean & Marilyn, the 1998 television movieGia, and the 2001 television movieJames Dean.

Worth was married to his wife Joan, an artist, for 44 years. They had three children.^[3] On April 22, 1998, Worth died ofbronchioloalveolar carcinoma, a form of lung cancer, in Los Angeles.^[4]

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

As an actor

As writer

Miscellaneous crew

As writer

Script and continuity department

Thanks

• Marvin Worth at theInternet Broadway Database
• Marvin Worth atIMDb
• Marvin Worth atFind a Grave

• 1925 births
• 1998 deaths
• American film producers
• American male screenwriters
• American male film actors
• Deaths from lung cancer in California
• Peabody Award winners
• American theatre managers and producers
• 20th-century American male actors
• 20th-century American businesspeople
• 20th-century American male writers
• 20th-century American screenwriters

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