Who was Mickey Cottrell? Veteran Publicist, Actor, and Producer Dead at 79

Mickey Cottrell, the public relations executive renowned for his contributions to the indie film sector, and a multifaceted individual who engaged in acting and producing, passed away on New Year’s Day at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills. He was 79 years old.

His sister, Suzie Cottrell-Smith, confirmed his demise, citing Parkinson’s disease as the cause. Cottrell, who had previously suffered a stroke in 2016, had been residing with his sister in Arkansas before returning to Los Angeles in 2019.

Born on November 4, 1944, in Springfield, IL, Cottrell spent part of his childhood in Monroe, LA. At the age of 8, he relocated with his family to Little Rock, AR, where he grew up. A graduate of the University of Arkansas, he dedicated over 30 years to the film and PR industries, co-owning various firms, including the most recent one, Inclusive PR. His portfolio included representing films such as “Bill Cunningham: New York,” “Stones in Exile,” “Ballets Russes,” “Down to the Bone,” “Body of War,” and Outfest winners “Keep the Lights On” and “Weekend,” among others.

One of the filmmakers whose career he fervently supported was Phillip Noyce. Cottrell served as a publicist on Noyce’s 1989 thriller “Dead Calm,” starring Nicole Kidman, Sam Neill, and Billy Zane.

Cottrell’s acting credits featured roles in notable films like Gus Van Sant’s “My Own Private Idaho,” Tim Burton’s “Ed Wood,” “Paper Hearts,” “Apt Pupil,” and “The Fluffer,” as well as John Cameron Mitchell’s “Shortbus” and two Star Trek series: “The Next Generation” and “Voyager.” Suzie Cottrell-Smith disclosed that her brother even contributed some of his own dialogue for “My Own Private Idaho,” portraying a client of street hustler Mikey Waters (River Phoenix).

Apart from his roles in the film industry, Cottrell also delved into producing indie films, with one of his latest projects being the 2014 film “Perfect Cowboy.”

During his time at the Motion Picture & Television Fund, Cottrell actively participated in the Grey Quill Society, a writing club. As part of the fund’s Giving Day in 2020, actor Matthew McConaughey read an excerpt from Cottrell’s short story, “The Fireman’s Equipment.”