Harold Matzner Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Palm Springs Film Festival Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Harold Matzner, the businessman and Coachella Valley philanthropist who helped revitalize the Palm Springs International Film Festival as its chairman for more than two decades, has died. He was 88. Matzner died Thursday at Eisenhower Health hospital in Rancho Mirage after a brief illness, a publicist announced. Matzner led the Palm Springs fest from 2000 until he stepped down in April 2023, to be succeeded by Nachhattar Chandi. He donated more than $12 million of his own funds to help turn the January event - which kicked off with humble beginnings in 1990 - into a must-attend awards-season happening as one of the world's great showcases for cinema. Related Stories Lifestyle Richard Gere, Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts and More Pay Tribute to Giorgio Armani: "A Supremely Talented Pussycat" Music Barbara Hein, Longtime Capitol Records Operations Manager, Dies at 77 Nicknamed "Mr. Palm Springs," Matzner donated more than $85 million to local nonprofits and championed healthcare, education and the arts in the area. He also revived the Palm Springs Tennis Club and turned its lunchroom into Spencer's, now a hot restaurant in town. He named it after his beloved 110-pound Siberian husky. Matzner received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in 2006, right next to a statue of his late friend and Palm Springs mayor, entertainer Sonny Bono. He came to the city in 1985. Born on July 4, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, Matzner was chairman of the branding, direct-mail advertising and marketing company CBA Industries on the East Coast. He remained active as its CEO into his 80s. Survivors include his life partner, Shellie; children Devin and Laura; and grandchildren Elizabeth and Emily. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Heat Vision Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auction Sale Sets Record for 'Star Wars' Item Toronto Film Festival Toronto: 'Forastera' Explores Family Trauma on a Vacation Hit by Tragedy (Exclusive Trailer) Spider-Man: Brand New Day Tom Holland Scoured the Internet to "Understand" What "Fans Want" in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Toronto International Film Festival 'The Fence' Review: Matt Dillon Stars in Claire Denis' Vividly Atmospheric but Jarringly Stagy Africa-Set Drama Heat Vision 'Preparation for the Next Life' Filmmaker Bing Liu on His Narrative Feature Debut and Why a 'Minding the Gap' Sequel Is Unlikely Toronto Film Festival 'Charlie Harper' Review: Nick Robinson and Emilia Jones Headline a Showy but Shallow Romance Heat Vision Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auction Sale Sets Record for 'Star Wars' Item Toronto Film Festival Toronto: 'Forastera' Explores Family Trauma on a Vacation Hit by Tragedy (Exclusive Trailer) Spider-Man: Brand New Day Tom Holland Scoured the Internet to "Understand" What "Fans Want" in 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Toronto International Film Festival 'The Fence' Review: Matt Dillon Stars in Claire Denis' Vividly Atmospheric but Jarringly Stagy Africa-Set Drama Heat Vision 'Preparation for the Next Life' Filmmaker Bing Liu on His Narrative Feature Debut and Why a 'Minding the Gap' Sequel Is Unlikely Toronto Film Festival 'Charlie Harper' Review: Nick Robinson and Emilia Jones Headline a Showy but Shallow Romance