Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Dies at 68

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Lorenzo Soria, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association which presents the Golden Globes each year, died at age 68 on Friday. Soria passed away "peacefully at his home in Los Angeles," according to an HFPA statement.

Soria had served three non-consecutive terms as HFPA president, the first of which spanned from 2003-2005. He also filled the role during 2015-2017 and 2019 until now.

Born in Buenos Aires, Soria immigrated to Italy at age 11 where he wrote for and edited L'Espresso, a weekly newspaper. He later moved to Los Angeles in 1982, joining the HFPA in 1989 and eventually serving as chairman of the board.

Those who worked with Soria are sharing stories of his character in the wake of his passing.

“I am devastated,” HFPA member Silvia Bizio told Variety. “Lorenzo and I had known each other for 40 years, well before our years in the [HFPA], and we went through marriages, kids, profession, friends. We had exchanged emails just this morning, discussing an interview we were going to be running in our newspapers, the consummate professional to the end. This was terribly unexpected, he will be so sorely missed.”

No cause of death was immediately announced.