Hugh Hefner Donates $2M to USC Cinema School

LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California is getting a dose of Playboy.

USC Media Relation's John Zollinger told XBIZ that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner donated $2 million to the USC School of Cinematic Arts to fund a central exhibition space and an archival repository, both of which will bear the adult entertainment legend's name.

“I’ve always believed that following one’s dreams is very important,” Hefner said. “I’m proud to support the USC School of Cinematic Arts, which offers dialogue and personal interaction between scholars, educators, industry veterans and the students who are pursuing their dreams to become the storytellers of the future.”

His donated funds for the repository will help house decades of student films, production-related records and other historic resources in the school's new headquarters complex.

Long a patron of film, film preservation and documentary productions, Hefner has donated millions of dollars to preserve films and fund cinema schools over the years.

The $2 million donation represents the latest move made over the past 15 years by Hefner to aid the school. Hefner gave $100,000 in 1992 to create the Critical Studies course Censorship in Cinema. In 1995, he provided $1.5 million in endowment for the Hugh M. Hefner Chair for the Study of American Film.

Since 1993 Hefner also has donated nearly $2 million to UCLA to preserve more than two dozen films, including "The Big Sleep," "Murder at the Vanities" and "Too Much Harmony."

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Bad Bella Fronts Latest From MYLF

Bad Bella stars with Hayden Wild in the latest release from MYLF.

Abella Danger Opens Up Like Never Before in X3 Magazine

Powerhouse star Abella Danger lights up the latest issue of X3 magazine, the industry’s premier “authenticity first” publication spotlighting the real personalities, passions, and stories behind today’s top creators.

Pure Taboo Debuts Bree Mills Thriller 'Let Me In Too'

Reagan Foxx stars with Shay Sights in the latest thriller from Pure Taboo, titled “Let Me In Too.”

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

Hookup Hotshot Adds TobyDick.com

Hookup Hotshot (HUHS) has added U.K. paysite TobyDick.com to its network.

Leana Lovings, Shay Sights Front 'Substance' Parody From Brazzers

Leana Lovings stars with Shay Sights in the latest release from Brazzers, a parody of "The Substance.”

Little Puck Stars in Latest Episode of 'The Bottom Floor' From Adult Time

Little Puck stars in the second episode of Adult Time series “The Bottom Floor,” titled “The Second Coming.”

Haley Spades Stars in Latest From Immoral

Haley Spades stars with Charlie Dean, Matt Bird, and Dean Van Damme in a new three-part release from Immoral Productions, directed by "Porno Dan" Leal.

Octavia Red Makes Her Vampired Debut

Octavia Red has made her Vampired debut alongside Talia Mint and 2023 XMA Europas Female Performer of the Year Tiffany Tatum in the new feature “Hunters.”

Lily Starfire Fronts Latest From Brazzers

Lily Starfire stars with Kyle Mason in the latest release from Brazzers, titled "Eating Ass Is the Game."

Show More