From City News Service
LOS ANGELES — Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that annually presents the Golden Globe Awards, has died at age 68.
Soria died “peacefully at his home in Los Angeles” Aug. 7, according to a statement from the association.
A cause of death was not released.
His family issued a statement saying they were “heartbroken to announce the loss of our husband, father, brother who was also a beloved friend and colleague.”
“His passing is a deep loss for us and for all who knew him and who were blessed by his generosity, passion and sense of humor,” the family statement said. “He was deeply committed to the movie industry’s power to heal the world and shine a spotlight on injustice. His contributions and friendship were immense. He was a fighter whom we loved deeply.”
An Argentina native who wrote for a pair of Italian publications for more than 30 years, Soria had lived in Los Angeles since 1982.
“He covered politics, technology, society and other topics, but what he loved most were his interviews with Hollywood talent and reporting about trends and changes in the film and television industry,” the association he led said. “Lorenzo has been a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association since 1989 and served in the administration for over 25 years.”
Soria was in his third stint as president of the association, previously filling the role from 2003-05 and 2015-17. He was elected president again in 2019.
“Lorenzo was a beloved member of the entertainment industry and the Hollywood community and will be sorely missed,” the association said.
On his Twitter page, actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called Soria a “champion” for the foreign press association.
“I always joked with him that I was jealous he could be president and I couldn’t,” Schwarzenegger wrote. “He was a cornerstone of Hollywood and I will miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his family and all of the members of [the foreign press association].”
