A movie promoter keeps it in the family

The gig: President of marketing and distribution for Universal Pictures. The 41-year-old executive is responsible for overseeing the advertising, promotion and publicity campaigns for the studio's movies and DVD releases, which have included such hits as the current release "Fast & Furious," the fourth film in a franchise that so far has collectively grossed more than $825 million worldwide; "Mamma Mia!," which racked up $600 million in global ticket sales; "Ray," for which Jamie Foxx won a best actor Oscar for his role as music legend Ray Charles; and the Steve Carell comedy "The 40-Year-Old Virgin."

Background: Born in New York, Fogelson moved to Los Angeles in 1970 at age 3 when his father, studio marketing veteran Andrew Fogelson, was sent here to open Warner Bros.' West Coast marketing office.

Fogelson says he had a charmed childhood and to this day remains very close to his father and mother, an educational therapist who helps disabled children, and younger brother, who runs an animation company. "It sounds boring but it was the furthest thing from boring. My parents and brother are the most interesting people I've ever met."

Self-admitted oddball: "I have to confess I was an odd child. I was much more comfortable hanging around older people . . . as much or more than people my own age." On the weekends, even as a young boy he preferred playing golf with his dad and his cronies to having sleepovers with his peers.

One of his cherished childhood memories: sitting around the dinner table with his parents; his dad's onetime boss, producer Ray Stark; and iconic movie director John Huston.

Like father, like son: "I loved watching my dad work in this business," said Fogelson, whose father headed marketing at Warner, Columbia Pictures and United Artists. Fogelson and his father often talked about how fun it would be to someday work together.

During his college years at Stanford, where he produced radio broadcasts of the school's basketball, football, baseball and volleyball games, Fogelson was sure he was going to be a sports broadcaster.

Then, in his senior year, on New Year's Day 1989, he had an epiphany after listening to Al Michaels' Sugar Bowl broadcast from New Orleans. "I realized that if I got to the top of my profession, I would be spending New Year's Day away from home and that all of the plane trips and hotel rooms that made it so much fun while I was a college student wasn't where I wanted to be when I turned 40."