Roger Howard Dies; Glaser Weil Lawyer Steered Jason Reitman-Led Directors Coalition’s Purchase Of Iconic Westwood Village Theater
Roger Howard, a senior partner at entertainment law firm Glaser Weil, has died aged 81 after a battle with cancer. Over 35 years at the firm, Howard built a career as a corporate, real estate and mergers and acquisitions lawyer, representing studios, producers, filmmakers and Los Angeles County, and his legal work is credited with helping secure one of Hollywood's most notable recent preservation deals.
His most lasting legacy is likely to be his role guiding the 2024 acquisition of the historic Westwood Village Theatre by the Village Directors Circle, a coalition of major filmmakers including Jason Reitman, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan and Guillermo del Toro, working alongside American Cinematheque. The nearly century-old, 1,000-plus-seat venue is set for a 12-month, multimillion-dollar renovation later this year. Howard, born in Los Angeles in 1944 and a UCLA law graduate, also sat on the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; he is survived by his wife, two children and six grandchildren, with the family requesting donations to Cedars-Sinai in lieu of flowers.
- Hollywood lawyer Roger Howard dies aged 81 after cancer battle
- He helped filmmakers' coalition buy the historic Westwood Village Theatre in 2024
- Theatre, backed by Spielberg, Nolan and others, faces major renovation this year
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The Westwood Village Theatre is a historic cinema in Los Angeles, opened in 1931. Its large auditorium and long history have made it a notable film venue, while changes in how people watch films have raised questions about how older cinemas can be kept in use.
In 2024, a group of filmmakers called the Village Directors Circle joined with the non-profit American Cinematheque to buy the theatre. The group includes Jason Reitman, Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan and Guillermo del Toro. American Cinematheque runs film screenings and venues in Los Angeles.
The planned renovation is part of efforts to preserve the theatre and continue using it for films and public events. Roger Howard was a Los Angeles lawyer whose work included property and business deals; his legal guidance helped the group complete the purchase.