Career
He was also the owner of the National Basketball Association"s Boston Celtics and San Diego Clippers. Levin began his film career as the president of Filmmakers Releasing Organization, a film distribution company founded by independent producers Collier Young and Ida Lupino. When American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres, Incorporated. decided to expand to film production in 1956, Levin was named the first president of the Am-Par Picture Corporation.
The company dissolved in 1959 and he moved to Atlantic Pictures Corporation
In 1961, Levin joined National Theaters & Television, Incorporated. as a vice president
In 1962 Eugene V. Klein restructured the company into National General Corporation, where Levin served as the executive vice president from 1962–1969 and president and Chief Executive Officer from 1969–1972. Levin was also president of NGC"s entertainment assets, which included National General Pictures and The Chinese Theatre.
In April 1972, Levin and attorney Harold A. Lipton purchased the Boston Celtics for $3.7 Million. The sale was rejected by the National Basketball Association as a result of conflict of interest concerns due to fellow National General directors Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein owning the Seattle SuperSonics.
Levin and Lipton were forced to sell their shares to Robert Schmertz that May for $3.95 Million with an option for the two to repurchase half of the Celtics" stock.
After two years of litigation, Levin and Lipton were able exercise their option. Ten months later they purchased the remaining stock from Leisure Technology. In 1978, Levin and Lipton swapped their shares in the Celtics with John Y. Brown, Junior. and Harry T. Mangurian, Junior. for their shares in the Buffalo Braves.
The Braves were relocated to San Diego, where they became the San Diego Clippers.
On May 4, 1981 Levin sold the Clippers to Donald Sterling for $13.5 million. Crashout (1955)
Eighteen and Anxious (1957)
Hell to Eternity (1960)
Operation Thunderbolt (1977)
To Live and Die in Los Angeles (1985).