The renowned publicist David Beckwith has away. His greatest accomplishment was promoting Elvis Presley’s Graceland museum on its opening more than 40 years ago. He was sixty-seven years old.
Following hip replacement surgery, Beckwith developed sepsis, which led to his death on Friday in Phoenix, as reported by colleague publicist Lynn Weiss.
For many years, Beckwith also served as the spokesperson for Spago, Wolfgang Puck, and his yearly Governors Ball meal at the Academy Awards. He coordinated a classy meal at Spago, complete with a big-screen TV so those industry giants who weren’t attending the Oscars could watch the ceremony, with the chef and agency Swifty Lazar.
READ MORE: Lisa Marie Presley Was Laid To Rest Alongside Her Beloved Son Benjamin At Graceland
In July 1982, when Presley’s Memphis, Tennessee, house was first made public, Beckwith assisted in overseeing the more than 700 media representatives present for the press conference that featured Priscilla Presley. Until his passing, he carried on working for Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland.
Born in Albion, Nebraska, on April 28, 1956, Beckwith majored in journalism and graduated from the University of Oregon in 1956. In 1979, he started working at Rogers & Cowan, and three years later, he launched The Beckwith Co.
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He negotiated a deal in 1979 that saw Moet & Chandon become the Golden Globes’ sole champagne sponsor, with magnums set out on every table and the label clearly visible. It remains the recognized champagne of the awards ceremony.
In addition, the publicist represented Music Theater International, Freddie Gershon, and the entertainment attorney’s yearly teacher scholarship program with the Kennedy Center and Stephen Sondheim.
As a trailblazer in the LGBTQ+ community, Beckwith sat on the national and local boards of the Human Rights Campaign and helped launch Outfest, the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world, in Los Angeles.
Dietrich Nelson, his husband of 15 years and partner of 42 years, as well as his pets Arlen, Daisy, Doris, and Edie, are among the survivors.
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