Ken Orsatti, the former Screen Actors Guild national executive director, has died of pulmonary disease. He was 78.
Orsatti died Tuesday at West Hills Hospital, the guild said Wednesday.
Orsatti served as the guild’s chief negotiator with the studios, hammering out the details on 20 major contracts. He served as national executive director from 1981 to 2000.
“Ken’s legacy of service to the Guild is tremendous,” said current SAG National Executive Director David White. “The loss of his presence will be felt by all of us and he will be greatly missed. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Patti and their sons.”
Orsatti began his career at SAG in 1961 as a theatrical business representative in Hollywood.
In 1966, he was named SAG’s Southwest regional director. Orsatti was then promoted to the position of Hollywood executive director and assistant national executive director.
Orsatti helped develop the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and served on its board while he worked at SAG and after his retirement. He served on the Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund and as an officer of the California AFL-CIO. Orsatti served as a trustee of the SAG-Producers Pension & Health Plans for more than 35 years.
SAG presented Orsatti with the Ralph Morgan Award, the highest service award presented by the Hollywood division, in 2001. That same year, the SAG Foundation established the Ken Orsatti Scholarship for guild employees.
Orsatti is survived by his wife Patricia and their three sons Scott, Christopher and Sean, and six grandchildren.
“Ken’s legacy of service to the Guild is tremendous,” said current SAG national executive director David White. “The loss of his presence will be felt by all of us and he will be greatly missed. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Patti and their sons.”
