Producer of ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ and ‘Finding Happy’ to speak in Edwards

Almost everyone looks back on their youth and thinks, “I wish I knew then what I know now,” but rarely do we see the destination at which we ultimately arrive. On March 5, Vail Symposium welcomes celebrated film producer Peter Samuelson to discuss his many adventures and his goal to make the world a better place.

“We are so looking forward to smiling, laughing and celebrating the human experience with Mr. Samuelson,” said Vail Symposium executive director James Kenly. “In addition to being a Hollywood legend and an impactful philanthropist, he is an enthusiastic spirit and entertaining storyteller.”

Peter Samuelson was the kid in 10th grade who laughed at the English teacher who told him he should go to college. He is a celebrated film producer and serial pro-social entrepreneur. He was production manager on “The Return of the Pink Panther” and celebrated film producer of films including “Revenge of the Nerds,” “Tom & Viv,” “Arlington Road” and many others. In 1982, he co-founded the Starlight Children’s Foundation; in 1992 he co-founded Starbright World with Steven Spielberg. The year 1999 saw the formation of First Star, 2005 EDAR Everyone Deserves a Roof, and in 2013 Samuelson launched ASPIRE, the Academy for Social Purpose in Responsible Entertainment. In the midst of this, Samuelson has produced 27 films and raised four children.

In this program, he’ll reflect on his many adventures as a master storyteller who learned to scale walls or go around them and who learned early on that our highest calling is to leave the world a better place than we found it. He’ll share how best to seize the day, which risks are brave and which foolish, about roadblocks and solutions, leadership and genius, about finding your compass and finding love, living your passion, taking off your mask and finding your best place in the universe.

Educated at Cambridge University on scholarship and the Anderson School of Management at UCLA, Peter lives in Los Angeles with his wife Saryl and continues to fight every day for those less fortunate, chief among them abused and neglected children. He really did nearly die trying to rescue a kitten.

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