Posted by: Paul Heath
Date: December 17, 2004
Source:

Turner Entertainment head honcho Roger Mayer will receive the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at next years Academy Awards.

"The board was persuaded in large measure by Roger's longtime efforts on behalf of the Motion Picture and Television Fund as well as his efforts in film preservation," Academy president Frank Pierson said. "Throughout a more than half-century-long career in the motion picture industry, Roger has been a fixture on the boards of a wide variety of charitable organizations. He has always given his time to support the needs of his industry."

A graduate of Yale Law School , Mayer started in the industry in 1952 as a lawyer with Columbia Pictures, later becoming a studio executive there. He joined MGM in 1961 as assistant general manager of the studio, ultimately becoming senior vice president of administration for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., and president of MGM Laboratories, an association that spanned 25 years.

Mayer has been president and chief operating officer of Turner Entertainment Co. since 1986.