Remembering Roger Mayer (1926-2015)
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Roger Mayer was recognized at the Oscars in 2005 with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
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The National Film Preservation Foundation and the National Film Preservation Board of the Library of Congress mourn the death of Roger Mayer, who served for many years as chairman of both organizations. Roger’s advocacy and passion for film preservation were inspirational and instrumental in bringing attention to the cause. From the Hollywood masterpieces he helped save while at MGM to the home movies he heralded as Chair of the NFPF, Roger saw film as vital history. As a leader his strength and conviction were balanced by his sense of humor and humility. We will strive to honor his memory through our continued dedication to saving America’s film heritage and bringing these precious images to new audiences.
“The film preservation community has lost a beloved friend today,” wrote fellow NFPF and NFPB Board Member Martin Scorsese. “Throughout his successful career in the industry, Roger consistently put the care and preservation of collections at the forefront. He was absolutely key in helping the Library of Congress establish the National Film Preservation Foundation in 1996 and over the years he gave tirelessly of his time and expertise. Because of his leadership and guidance, the NFPF has been incredibly effective, preserving thousands of orphan films from every state in the US. I’m deeply saddened at the passing of Roger, for whom I had an enormous amount of respect, affection, and admiration. To say that he will be sorely missed is an understatement. My heart goes out to his family and everyone in the film community whose lives he indelibly touched.”