Mahfouz Doss, former HFPA president and award-winning journalist, dies at age 97
Mahfouz Doss, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and award-winning Egyptian journalist, has passed away. He turned 97.
The association shared the news of his death in a press release on Thursday. His cause of death has not been shared at this time.
“We are incredibly saddened by the passing of Mahfouz Doss,” said Helen Hoehne, the current president of the HFPA. “He was a true pioneer of the HFPA, joining the association in 1959 when the ceremonies were held at the famed Cocoanut Grove Club at the Ambassador Hotel. During his six decades of service, the Golden Globes grew into an iconic global brand. We are eternally grateful to him for his leadership, his generosity and his dedication as a journalist and colleague.”
Born on August 18, 1925 in Port Said, Egypt, Boss knew early on that he was interested in the entertainment industry. “As a teenager in Cairo, I went to the movies,” he said in an association interview in 2013. “I was fascinated by actors. And I was fascinated by stories.”
Before leaving for Hollywood, Boss, who is fluent in Arabic, French and English, graduated from the University of Toulouse, France, with a degree in chemical engineering, as well as a master’s degree in organic chemistry and applied chemistry. In 1974 he also traveled the world as a guest lecturer for technical organizations, starting in Japan and ending in Iceland.
He began his career in journalism in the 1950s Al Ahram Financial, a financial and business magazine published by a leading daily newspaper in the Middle East. After moving to the United States in 1959, he began working as a Hollywood correspondent for the weekly Egyptian newspaper Watani. While working as a journalist, he attended more than 3,000 press conferences and regular visits.
That same year, he joined HFPA, serving in a variety of positions during his time with the organization, including a member of the board of directors for more than 25 years, chairman of the board, vice president, and president from 2000-01.
In 2013, he received the Life Achievement Award from the Egyptian American Organization for his leadership in journalism, chemical engineering, and community.
When Doss was not working, his other passions were photography. During his travels, he took more than 5,000 photographs during his visits to 114 countries.
He is survived by his wife Juliette Doss and his brother George Doss.
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