Former Academy Awards controller OTTO SPOERRI has died at the age of 75.
Spoerri died in his hometown of Zurich, Switzerland, on Saturday (29Nov08).
His cause of death was not made public as WENN went to press.
Spoerri served as controller at the Oscars from 1978 to 2002 and was known as 'the ultimate arbiter of industry power' because he oversaw the seating plan, arranging where movie stars and industry executives would be placed every year at the glittering ceremony.
Spoerri is survived by his second wife, two children and two grandchildren.