Mickey Cottrell, the dependable Hollywood publicist who championed indie films for decades, died at the age of 79.

Cottrell passed away on January 1st, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. His death was confirmed by his buddy, former LACMA film curator Ian Birnie.

Cottrell’s career was a tapestry of public relations, acting, and producing threads. He began his career in the theater, working at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before moving on to manage the Loyola Theatre.

Soon after, his love of movies attracted him to Los Angeles, where he obtained a job as a publicist at Landmark Theaters. This was the start of a long and successful career in film promotion.

Cottrell co-founded Cottrell and Lindeman Associates, a public relations business recognized for its support of indie film, in 1989.

He diligently promoted innumerable films, from Gus Van Sant’s early masterpieces like Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho to tiny unknown gems.

Cottrell dabbled in acting and producing in addition to public relations. He acted in various films, including My Own Private Idaho, in which he played the conceited Daddy Carroll. He has worked on independent films such as The Ballad of Lucy Jordan and The Night We Met.

Cottrell’s legacy transcends box office figures and film credits. He was a supporter of artistic freedom, a guide to aspiring filmmakers, and a friend to innumerable Hollywood creatives.