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Otto Spoerri | Power on Oscar night, 75
Otto Spoerri, 75, known as "the ultimate arbiter of industry power" because he determined seating at the Oscars, died Saturday in his hometown of Zurich, Switzerland, according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The academy did not reveal the cause of death.
Mr. Spoerri served as the academy's controller from 1978 to 2002. Though he oversaw accounting, he was better known for seating scores of movie stars and industry executives at the Academy Awards.
- AP