Steven Miessner

Steven Paul Miessner (September 26, 1960 - July 29, 2009) was an American administrator of the Academy Awards for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Miessner was nicknamed the "Keeper of the Oscars"^[1] for his dedication to the administration of the golden statuette awarded during the film industry's most important award ceremony.^[2]

Miessner joined the staff of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2002.^[2] He became responsible for the upkeep, administration and security of the Oscar statues for the Academy Awards. His position was a year-round responsibility.^[2] Miessner would take responsibility of the Oscar statuettes upon their arrival at the Academy from the R.S. Owens & Company in Chicago, which manufactures the awards.^[2] Following their arrival, Miessner would enter each individual Oscar into a computer file to keep a record for the Academy.^[2] He was then responsible for the Oscars' safety and security until the awards ceremony.^[2] Miessner could be seen each Oscar night polishing and inspecting each statue with white gloves before they were handed out to recipients.^[2]

Additionally, Miessner created a database and record of each Oscar that has ever been awarded by the Academy.^[2] He functioned as a liaison between the Academy and R.S. Owens & Company, the foundry which makes the statues, when an older Oscar needed repair or refurbishment.^[2] Miessner also worked as the executive assistant for both Academy President Sid Ganis and the organization's executive director Bruce Davis.^[2] A spokesperson for the Academy described Miessner as "central to the day-to-day operations of the organization" in 2009.^[2]

Steven Miessner died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles on July 29, 2009, at the age of 48.^[2] He was survived by his mother, Virginia, his sister and his brother.^[2] He remained with the Academy until his death.^[2]

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