Arlene Winnick, Veteran Hollywood Publicist, Dies at 77

Adgully Bureau |

Arlene Winnick, a seasoned Hollywood publicist who represented high-profile clients such as Universal Studios Hollywood and TCL Chinese Theatre throughout her career spanning over three decades, passed away on October 1 in Beverly Hills following a prolonged illness. Publicist Jerry Digney, who worked closely with Winnick, credited her as a key part of Solters & Digney and later Digney & Co. Public Relations.

Winnick played a significant role in the entertainment industry for more than 30 years. Early in her career, she helped pioneer marketing and publicity campaigns for the then-emerging home video industry, contributing to the success of popular exercise tapes featuring Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda, and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Throughout her career, she worked as a consultant for several independent PR firms and the Digney team on notable entertainment accounts. Her clients included Universal Studios Hollywood, Madame Tussauds Hollywood and Las Vegas, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, the Carousel of Hope gala, TCL Chinese Theatres Hollywood, and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

In her later years, Winnick worked on handprint-footprint ceremonies at the TCL Chinese Theatre for iconic figures such as James Cameron, Jon Landau, Keanu Reeves, and the cast of the Avengers films.

Beyond Hollywood, Winnick's more than 35 years of PR experience extended to the food, restaurant, and travel/tourism industries. Her clients included renowned names like Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, BeautifulPlaces, Le Meridien Beverly Hills (now the SLS Hotel), RanchWeb, Paradisio de la Bonita, Ceiba del Mar, Pacifica Holistic Resort and Spa in Mexico, Wyndam Bel Age (now The London West Hollywood), Madison and Mulholland (luxury events and celebrity gifting), Lake Arrowhead Resort + Spa, Johnnie Walker, and Westlake Village Inn.

Since 2012, Winnick had also been a senior writer for L.A. Arts Online, where she covered and reviewed more than 50 events and shows. Additionally, she volunteered with Project Angel Food. A native of Great Neck, New York, Winnick was preceded in death by her partner of 20 years, Richard Schulenberg.

She is survived by two sons, Jon and Andrew Gladston; a brother, Larry Beer; a daughter-in-law, Leslie; two stepdaughters, Katie and Amy, along with her husband Chris; and seven grandchildren, Jacob, Talia, Harper, Lucy, Elenor, Kalan, and Pono.