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IMDbPro

Jack Valenti(1921-2007)

IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Jack Valenti
Texas born, Harvard educated, Jack Valenti has led several lives; a wartime bomber pilot, advertising agency founder, political consultant, White House Special Assistant, movie industry leader. In his current role as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, Valenti has presided over a worldwide sea change in the industry, which has radically changed the landscape of the American film and television industry here and abroad. It is Valenti's duty and challenge to lead the U.S. film and TV industry's confrontation with these global dangers and opportunities. Born in Houston, Texas, Valenti was the youngest (age 15) high school graduate in the city. He began work a a 16-year-old office boy with the Humble Oil Company (now Exxon). As a young pilot in the Army Air Corps in World War II, Lieutenant Valenti flew 51 combat missions as the pilot-commander of a B-25 attack bomber with the 12th Air Force in Italy. He was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four clusters, the Distinguished Unit Citation with one cluster, the European Theater Ribbon with four battle stars. He has a B.A. from the University of Houston (doing all his undergraduate work at night, working during the day). He graduated from Harvard with an M.B.A. In 1952, he co-founded the advertising/political consulting agency of Weekley & Valenti. In 1955, he met the man who would have the largest impact on his life, the then Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, Lyndon B. Johnson. Valenti's agency was in charge of the press during the visit of President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Johnson to Texas. Valenti was in the motorcade in Dallas on November 22, 1963. Within hours of the murder of John F. Kennedy, Valenti was on Air Force One flying back to Washington, the first newly hired special assistant to the new President. On June 1, 1966, Valenti resigned his White House post to become only the third man in MPAA history to become its leader. Valenti has written four books, three non-fiction, The Bitter Taste Of Glory (World Publishing); A Very Human President (W. W. Norton Co.); Speak Up With Confidence (Wm. Morrow Co.); his newest book is a political novel, Protect Aand Defend (Doubleday, 1992). He has written numerous essays for the New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Reader's Digest, Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, Cox newspapers and other publications. France awarded him its highly prized Legion d'Honneur, the French Legion of Honor. He has been awarded his own Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He and his wife, Mary Margaret Valenti, lived in Washington, though he spent half his time in Los Angeles. They had three children, Courtenay Valenti, John Valenti and Alexandra Valenti. He died from complications of a stroke in April 2007.
BornSeptember 5, 1921
DiedApril 26, 2007(85)
BornSeptember 5, 1921
DiedApril 26, 2007(85)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 6 wins

Photos15

Lady Bird Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Jack Valenti in American Experience (1987)
Kirk Douglas and Jack Valenti at Michael Douglas' wedding to Diandra
Jack Valenti
Jack Valenti
Fay Kanin and Jack Valenti
Jack Valenti
Jack Valenti at an event for Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
Jack Valenti at an event for Road to Perdition (2002)
Sophia Loren, Edoardo Ponti, and Jack Valenti
Jack Valenti at an event for The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002)
Sam Donaldson and Jack Valenti
Jack Valenti

Known for

This Week (1956)
This Week
7.1
TV Series
  • Self
America Speaks Out (2004)
America Speaks Out
2.5
  • Self
  • 2004
All the Presidents' Movies: The Movie (2009)
All the Presidents' Movies: The Movie
  • Self
  • 2009
Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies (2008)
Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies
8.2
  • Self
  • 2008

Credits

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IMDbPro

Personal details

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  • Born
    • September 5, 1921
    • Houston, Texas, USA
  • Died
    • April 26, 2007
    • Washington, District of Columbia, USA(complications from a stroke)
  • Spouse
    • Mary Margaret ValentiJune 1, 1962 - April 26, 2007 (his death, 3 children)
  • Other works
    Has written four books. Three non-fiction-- The Bitter Taste Glory (World Publishing), A Very Human President (W. W. Norton Co.), and Speak Up With Confidence (Wm. Morrow Co.)--and a political novel--Protect and Defend (Doubleday, 1992).
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Print Biography
    • 4 Portrayals
    • 1 Interview
    • 29 Articles
    • 1 Pictorial
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    In the iconic shot of Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in (November 22, 1963) on Air Force One (Dallas Love Field), Valenti is crouched in the left of the photo facing the camera.
  • Quotes
    The movie is a reflector and not an innovator.
  • Nickname
    • Boom-Boom

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