# Samuel Goldwyn

> Polish-American film producer (1882–1974)

**Wikidata**: [Q72579](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q72579)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Goldwyn)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/samuel-goldwyn

## Summary
Samuel Goldwyn (born Szmuel Gelbfisz) was a Polish-American film producer and writer active from 1917 to 1953. Born in the Russian Empire in 1882, he emigrated to the United States where he founded Goldwyn Pictures in 1916, becoming a pioneering figure in the American motion picture industry. He is recognized as one of the foundational architects of Hollywood's studio system.

## Biography
- Born: August 17, 1882 (also recorded as July 1879), Russian Empire
- Died: January 31, 1974
- Nationality: Polish-American; citizen of the Russian Empire and the United States
- Also known as: Samuel Goldfish, Szmuel Gelbfisz, שמואל געלבפֿיש
- Known for: Film production and founding Goldwyn Pictures
- Field(s): Motion picture production, writing
- Active years: 1917–1953

## Contributions

Samuel Goldwyn's primary contribution was the establishment of **Goldwyn Pictures**, an American motion picture production company founded on January 1, 1916. Headquartered in the United States and operating within the motion picture industry, Goldwyn Pictures became a significant entity in early Hollywood's development. His career as a producer and writer spanned approximately 36 years, from 1917 to 1953.

## FAQs

**What was Samuel Goldwyn's original name?**
Samuel Goldwyn was born Szmuel Gelbfisz (שמואל געלבפֿיש) and also went by Samuel Goldfish before adopting the Goldwyn surname.

**What company did Samuel Goldwyn found?**
He founded Goldwyn Pictures, an American motion picture production company established on January 1, 1916, which operated in the United States film industry.

**What awards did Samuel Goldwyn receive?**
Goldwyn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

**Where is the Samuel Goldwyn Theater?**
The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is a movie theater located in Beverly Hills, California, at the headquarters of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).

## Why They Matter

Samuel Goldwyn's significance lies in his role as an early architect of the American studio system through Goldwyn Pictures. His company contributed to the foundation of what would become the dominant force in global entertainment. The naming of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at AMPAS headquarters cements his legacy within the institutional framework of American cinema. Recognition with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award underscores both his national importance and humanitarian contributions to the film industry.

## Notable For

- Founding Goldwyn Pictures in 1916, an early American motion picture production company
- Career spanning 36 years (1917–1953) in the film industry
- Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from AMPAS
- Honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Namesake of the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at AMPAS headquarters in Beverly Hills, California
- Birth name Szmuel Gelbfisz, reflecting his Polish-Jewish heritage from the Russian Empire
- Dual citizenship in the Russian Empire and the United States
- Worked as both a film producer and writer

## Body

### Early Life and Origins
Samuel Goldwyn was born Szmuel Gelbfisz (שמואל געלבפֿיש) on August 17, 1882, in the Russian Empire. Some records also list a birth date of July 1879. He later adopted the name Samuel Goldfish before becoming known as Samuel Goldwyn. His origins in the Russian Empire—a sovereign state spanning Eurasia and North America from 1721 to 1917—placed him among the many Eastern European immigrants who would transform the American film industry.

### Career in Film Production
Goldwyn's professional career in the film industry began in 1917 and continued through 1953. His occupations included both **film producer** (a person supervising the making of a film) and **writer** (a person who uses written words to communicate ideas and produce literary works).

### Goldwyn Pictures
On January 1, 1916, Samuel Goldwyn established **Goldwyn Pictures**, a motion picture production company headquartered in the United States. The company operated within the motion picture industry and represented one of the foundational studios of early Hollywood. As both founder and key figure, Goldwyn shaped the structure of American film production during its formative years.

### Recognition and Awards
Samuel Goldwyn received several notable honors:
- **Presidential Medal of Freedom**: The joint-highest civilian award of the United States, bestowed by the President (award established in 1963)
- **Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award**: Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (award established in 1956)
- **Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame**: Located in Hollywood, California

### Legacy and Namesakes
The **Samuel Goldwyn Theater** stands as a tribute to his contributions. Located in Beverly Hills, California, at AMPAS headquarters, it serves as a prominent venue within the American film industry.

### External Identifiers and References
Samuel Goldwyn is cataloged across numerous international databases and reference systems, including:

| Identifier Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Library of Congress Authority ID | n81039798 |
| VIAF ID | 46813321 |
| GND ID | 118718010 |
| BNF ID | 12228545g |
| ISNI | 0000000083793990 |
| IMDb ID | nm0326418 |
| MusicBrainz ID | 6bbd4fb0-7b8f-4486-98c7-3a813f4909dc |
| Wikidata Description | Polish-American film producer (1882–1974) |
| Wikipedia Sitelinks | 52 across multiple languages |
| Freebase ID | /m/022p06 |
| Find a Grave ID | 402 |
| Britannica ID | biography/Samuel-Goldwyn |

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. LIBRIS. 2018
4. [HOLLIS](https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/99156707910403941/catalog)
5. [HOLLIS](https://id.lib.harvard.edu/alma/99157150174603941/catalog)
6. [Source](https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R47639)
7. [Samuel Goldwyn Academy Awards Acceptance Speech](https://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/link/030-21/)
8. Virtual International Authority File
9. CiNii Research
10. MusicBrainz
11. Goldwyn, Samuel (birth stated as 27 Aug. 1882, but more likely July 1879–31 January 1974), motion picture pioneer
12. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1939)
15. BBC Things
16. The Movie Database
17. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data