Publicist Maria La Magra dies

Veteran homevideo publicist Maria La Magra, who was VP of publicity at what's now Universal Studios Home Entertainment before beginning independent work as a PR consultant, died of cancer on Sunday, Aug. 7. La Magra held the VP of publicity post at U for 11 years until 2002. She began work in the video sector in 1984, joining Embassy Home Entertainment as director of public relations. After a stint in the consumer productions division at Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations, she joined Trimark Pictures as director in 1989, eventually becoming VP of theatrical and homevideo publicity. La Magra joined MCA Home Video's publicity department as topper in May 1991 and was seen as highly effective in that role. She was key to the launch of the "Jurassic Park" franchise and was credited with boosting Universal's entry into the DVD market. She was a consultant for Sony Pictures Home Entertainment after exiting U. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment had been among her clients since 2003, and in 2005 she joined forces with Nadia Bronson & Associates, where she was a PR consultant. La Magra graduated from UCLA in 1973. She was a key mover in the Entertainment AIDS Alliance, where she was most recently secretary of the org, and her last public appearance was at an EAA event in June. La Magra also recently served on the board of directors of the Entertainment Publicists Professional Society. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com