Edie Wasserman, philanthropist and widow of mogul Lew Wasserman, dies at 95

Edie Wasserman, who was the widow of Hollywood powerhouse Lew Wasserman and who was known as a tireless benefactor for charitable causes, especially the Motion Picture and Television Fund, has died. She was 95.

Wasserman died Thursday in Beverly Hills of natural causes, said Melissa Zukerman, a family spokeswoman.

With her husband, Wasserman helped raise millions for the fund, which cares for aging actors and others in the industry. The fund publicly thanked the Wassermans by naming its 40-acre Woodland Hills campus after them in 1998.

In typical fashion, Edie — who preferred to stay out of the limelight — privately told the fund's board: "If you find somebody to give more money than I'm giving, then change the name."

Lew Wasserman was the longtime chief executive of MCA and president of Universal Studios, a former talent agent who emerged as the most powerful mogul in post-World War II Hollywood. The Wassermans had been married for almost 66 years when he died in 2002.

A complete obituary will follow at latimes.com/obits.

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-- Barbara Thomas and Valerie J. Nelson

 Photo: Lew and Edie Wasserman in 1973. Credit: Los Angeles Times