As I entered Stage 15 on the Sony lot, I joined a room full of friends -- cancer researchers, Hollywood executives, actors, directors, and colleagues -- gathered to comfort one another as we celebrated the life of the extraordinary movie producer Laura Ziskin, who passed away on June 12 at the age of 61.
The sound stage was decorated in warm earth tones, with comfortable couches, tables, and candle light. Photos of Laura, at work and with her family, decorated the space; nothing ostentatious, just simple, beautiful images in black and white that captured a loving and beloved woman with an outsized personality and charm.
Laura was a leading light in Hollywood -- what her daughter called "a mom in a man's world" -- the brains behind blockbusters like Spiderman and Pretty Woman, as well as two Academy Awards shows. She was also a tireless and trailblazing warrior in the battle against cancer, a disease that takes 1,500 American lives every day, and irrevocably impacts countless more. She refused to believe our current knowledge about cancer was, to borrow the name of one of her movies, "as good as it gets." Through Stand Up To Cancer -- the nonprofit organization she called her most important production -- she helped raise $180 million for cutting-edge research to speed the development and delivery of lifesaving treatments to patients.
I had the privilege of getting to know Laura several years ago, as Stand Up To Cancer was being conceived. At a meeting with her business colleagues Pam Williams and Rusty Robertson, Laura enthusiastically explained her goal of eradicating this disease. At the end of the conversation, she confided that she herself was battling breast cancer. She wanted to find a cure not just for herself but for all the cancer sufferers who are fighting for their lives.
As one colleague has said of Laura, she sometimes described herself as an "impatient patient." She was angry at cancer, but never self-pitying; tackling this challenge as she had every other, with vision, creativity, optimism, and a knack for bringing people together.
At the memorial service, Laura's beautiful daughter, Julia Barry, described not only her love for her mother, but also her admiration for her mother's fierce courage, perseverance, and determination to live her life to the fullest all the way to the end.
Actress Emma Stone challenged us all to ensure the work of Stand Up To Cancer would continue, adding comic relief by suggesting that Laura had been keeping a list of those who had and hadn't supported her cause.
Tobey Maguire fought back tears as he read a letter from a cancer researcher who had met Laura 15 months before, and who described the enormous personal and professional impact her "exhortations, prodding, pushing and encouragement" had made: "Each time I talked with you I came away feeling inspired. Inspired by your revolutionary approach, your intense dedication, your intolerance for the status quo and your enthusiasm."
Last to speak was Laura's husband and soul mate, acclaimed screenwriter Alvin Sargent, who described his wife's tenacity and unyielding zest for life. He shared a brief but touching story about Laura repeatedly trying to ride the big waves on her paddle board, and said his family planned to sprinkle her ashes over the Pacific. Laura made big waves throughout her life; now she will ride those big waves for all time.
The last time I saw Laura was at a meeting in Washington DC, where she had traveled to talk about a movie project with Lee Daniels. She was frail in body, but full of passion for this new project, excited about what lay in store. She never gave up. She knew there was still so much good work left to do.
For me, that positive, action-oriented spirit is Laura's most inspiring and enduring legacy.
We left the memorial with hats emblazoned, "What would Laura do?"
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.