Tayyaba
Judy Solomon, a respected journalist and longtime member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), passed away on Friday at the age of 91. Solomon was one of the most respected and influential members of the HFPA, and her death is a major loss to the Hollywood community. Solomon is survived by her daughters, Donna Sloan and Deborah Solomon, son-in-law Stephen Sloan, and granddaughter Ashley Sloan.
What did the HFPA & the Golden Globes say about her death?
On Saturday, the president of the Golden Globes Helen Hoehne released a statement about Judy Solomon’s passing. “We are incredibly saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague,” she wrote. “The loss is profound, but we take this opportunity to celebrate her incredible achievements in helping evolve the Golden Globes into the world-spanning award it is today. We are grateful for her support and leadership during her 67 years of membership with the HFPA.” A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the film industry, Solomon will really be missed.
“Not only did Judy love the HFPA, but she also loved Hollywood. She loved the people she met, the executives she collaborated with and the rich tapestry of films and television that audiences around the world enjoyed.”
Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes president
What is Judy Solomon’s history with the HFPA?
Born in Romania and brought up in Israel, Solomon moved to the United States as a young adult to build a family and pursue a career in journalism. She started writing about entertainment for numerous newspapers in Israel and quickly gained a reputation for her incisive and thought-provoking articles. She became a member of the HFPA in 1956, and she swiftly rose to prominence. She had a key role in bringing television host Dick Clark to the Globes and securing the agreement that allowed his production company, Dick Clark Productions, to handle the televised production of the awards show for many years.
She was also involved in the decision to move the Globes from its former location in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub inside the Ambassador Hotel, which is no longer there, to the International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton decades ago. Solomon will also be remembered for promoting other foreign journalists and increasing the HFPA’s role in charitable support of journalism, the arts, education, and cinema preservation through the use of Globes revenues.