thousand Oaks, Calif. – Lewis Horwitz, the film finance pioneer who helped launch the self-reliant film boom with titles like Bloodsport, The Virgin Suicides, adn My Big Fat Greek Wedding, died Dec. 19 of natural causes. He was 90 years old.
The “King of Indie Film Finance” Leaves a Legacy
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Horwitz revolutionized how independent films got made, creating a financing model still used today.
- Horwitz founded the lewis Horwitz Organization in 1980, becoming a key lender to independent productions.
- He pioneered financing films against foreign presales, a method that allowed filmmakers to secure funding without studio backing.
- Horwitz’s work contributed to the financing of approximately 700 films over his career.
- Beyond finance, he was a skilled magician and a member of the Academy of magical Arts’ Hall of Fame.
Horwitz earned a reputation for working with a diverse range of filmmakers,including Roger Corman,Avi Lerner,Lloyd Kaufman,Stephen Paul,Mark Damon,and Arnold Kopelson. His family noted he built a reputation as “a steady hand and a straight shooter” in an industry often lacking those qualities.
From Teller to Trailblazer
Horwitz’s journey into film finance began unconventionally, as a bank teller in the 1960s. He transitioned to Beverly Hills national Bank, where he established an entertainment division-a rarity at the time, with only First Bank of Boston and Bank of America actively lending to Hollywood.
“They didn’t know what a deal memo was,” Horwitz recalled, referring to the essential contracts between studios and producers. He successfully convinced beverly Hills National to fund Mary Tyler Moore against a deal memo, directly contributing to the launch of CBS’ The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Moore’s production company, MTM Enterprises.
After Beverly Hills National was acquired by Wells Fargo, horwitz moved to First Los Angeles Bank.
A Prolific Portfolio
Over the course of his career, Horwitz contributed to the development and financing of around 700 films. His extensive filmography includes titles like Dawn of the Mummy (1981), Kickboxer (1989), Attack of the 50ft Woman (1993), David Cronenberg’s Crash (1995), Jack Frost (1997), and The Man in the Iron Mask (1998).
Even after retiring in 2004, Horwitz remained involved in the industry as a consultant, helping to secure financing for films such as Oculus (2013), Pawn Sacrifice (2014), Mojave (2015), and The Lost City of Z (2016).
More Than Just finance: A Magician’s Touch
Horwitz’s talents extended beyond the financial realm.he was a skilled magician, often incorporating his act into speeches at film markets, delighting audiences with his illusions. He served as a magic consultant for Anthony Hopkins in Richard Attenborough’s Magic (1978), was treasurer for The Magic Castle in Hollywood, and was inducted into the Academy of Magical Arts’ Hall of Fame.
He is survived by his children, Jil, Gayle, and producer Edward R. Horwitz (Unsolved Mysteries, The Jennifer Hudson Show); grandchildren Jay, Max, DJ, Alex, joey, and producers Andy Horwitz (American Hustle, Suicide Squad) and Aaron Horwitz (The Cleansing Hour), partners in the newly launched big Swell Entertainment; and a great-grandson, Nash. His wife of 70 years, Hermine, preceded him in death, passing away June 20.
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