Chuck Panama

1925 - 2018

Veteran Fox Publicist Chuck Panama Dies at 93 Feb 2, 1925 - May 13, 2018 Long-time publicist, Chuck Panama died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund home in Woodland Hills.. He was 93. During WWII Chuck was a radio man in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific. When the war ended, he moved from his birthplace of Chicago to Los Angeles where he attended UCLA on the G.I. bill. He was sports editor of The Daily Bruin and remained a life long Bruin fan. Chuck began his professional career with the International News Service before moving to the PR department at 20th Century Fox where he worked with such celebrities as Elvis Presley and Jane Mansfield. During this time, Panama became a voting member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Television Academy. After 12 years in the motion picture division at Fox, Chuck moved to independent PR, where he worked with such stars as Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Fonda and Faye Dunaway. He returned to Fox in 1976, working in the television division where he was publicist for LA Law, The Simpsons and the last seven years of M*A*S*H. Chuck was thrice recognized by the Publicists Guild for excellence in his profession. Chuck retired from Fox in 1991. In retirement, he volunteered at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica and later at The Getty Museum. Panama was a warm and caring person, full of energy and always with a twinkle in his eye. Chuck Panama was married for 64 years to the true love of his life, Gerry. He is survived by Gerry, their children Craig (Debbie), Cindy and Carrie (Tony) and seven grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to MPTF (www.mptf.com/donate 855-760-6783) or UCLA (giveto.ucla.edu 310-794-2447).