Jack Valenti, the influential former president of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) died Thursday. He was 85.

“Jack Valenti was a giant who loomed large over two of the world’s most glittering stages—
Washington and Hollywood,” said MPAA Chairman and CEO Dan Glickman. “He was a patriot who loved and served his country, and he was a passionate champion of American cinema and artistic freedom. He was truly a model for us all.”

“Laura and I are saddened by Jack Valenti’s death,” President Bush said in a statement, calling Valenti “a great American and a great Texan.”

“From protecting families by creating the movie rating system to advocating for intellectual property rights, Jack Valenti helped transform the motion picture industry,” Bush added. “He leaves a powerful legacy in Washington, in Hollywood, and across our Nation.”