William J Moraskie, a long-time sales executive and one of the founding members of the American Film Market, died on Mar 2 at Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach, Florida, following a brief illness. He was 82.
Moraskie was born on Jan 11 1926 in Mt Carmel, Pennsylvania, and following service in the US Navy from 1943-47 and two years of higher education he began his career in the film industry with Columbia Pictures in 1951.
During his stint as assistant manager and manager in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico, Moraskie represented the studio in Havana at the time of Fidel Castro's takeover.
During the 1960s he was stationed in Mexico City for Mark IV Productions and later American International Pictures out of Mexico City. He later served stints in Madrid, London and Los Angeles for Cinema International Corporation, United International Pictures, Cannon Films and Carolco Pictures. His most recent position was vice president of international sales with Cappella Films International in Los Angeles.
Moraskie was active in the creation of the American Film Marketing Association (now the Independent Film & Television Alliance) and the American Film Market and served on the board of directors for three terms between 1995 and 1999.
He is survived by Kay (nee Collins), his wife of 52 years, daughters Katy and Margaret, son Mike, nine grandchildren, a brother and a sister. Another daughter, Ellen, died in 2003.
Memorial services took place on Mar 5 at the Ascension Catholic Church in Boca Raton, Florida. The family requests that memorial donations be made to favourite charities or to: St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
Moraskie was born on Jan 11 1926 in Mt Carmel, Pennsylvania, and following service in the US Navy from 1943-47 and two years of higher education he began his career in the film industry with Columbia Pictures in 1951.
During his stint as assistant manager and manager in Chile, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Cuba and Puerto Rico, Moraskie represented the studio in Havana at the time of Fidel Castro's takeover.
During the 1960s he was stationed in Mexico City for Mark IV Productions and later American International Pictures out of Mexico City. He later served stints in Madrid, London and Los Angeles for Cinema International Corporation, United International Pictures, Cannon Films and Carolco Pictures. His most recent position was vice president of international sales with Cappella Films International in Los Angeles.
Moraskie was active in the creation of the American Film Marketing Association (now the Independent Film & Television Alliance) and the American Film Market and served on the board of directors for three terms between 1995 and 1999.
He is survived by Kay (nee Collins), his wife of 52 years, daughters Katy and Margaret, son Mike, nine grandchildren, a brother and a sister. Another daughter, Ellen, died in 2003.
Memorial services took place on Mar 5 at the Ascension Catholic Church in Boca Raton, Florida. The family requests that memorial donations be made to favourite charities or to: St Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105.
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