# Lee Roy Mitchell

> Lee Roy Mitchell co-founded Cinemark with his wife and business partner, Tandy, in 1984, after earlier theater ventures in Texas. He served as CEO until 2006, chaired the board from 1996 to 2022, and retired from the board in February 2023. His career combines cinema expansion, industry leadership, mentorship and support for aspiring entrepreneurs.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former CEO and executive chairman of Cinemark
- **Organizations:** Cinemark, National Association of Theatre Owners (now Cinema United), National CineMedia, Texas Capital Bancshares, Mitchell Family Foundation
- **Education:** Honorary Doctor of Humanities, Dallas Baptist University
- **Known for:** Co-founded a cinema company that operated 5,835 screens in 16 countries at his February 2023 board retirement., Served on the executive committee of the National Association of Theatre Owners for 20 years., Texas Business Hall of Fame inductee, 2011.

## Career timeline

- **1962** — Joined his father in purchasing a drive-in theater in Ennis, Texas.
- **1966** — Sold theaters to Interstate and subsequently built Texas Cinema Corporation.
- **1977** — Began grouping theaters under the Cinemark name.
- **1984** — Co-founded the Cinemark business with Tandy Mitchell.
- **1987** — Cinemark USA was formed; began the CEO tenure that ended in December 2006.
- **1996** — Became chairman of the board in March.
- **2007** — Cinemark went public on the New York Stock Exchange.
- **2011** — Inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.
- **2014** — Created Cinemark’s Chairman’s Advisory Committee.
- **2015** — Received the Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award with Tandy Mitchell.
- **2016** — Received Belgium’s Order of the Crown medal on December 6.
- **2022** — Stepped down as executive chairman effective May 19, remaining a director.
- **2023** — Retired from the board February 15; Kevin Mitchell succeeded him as a Mitchell Investors designee.
- **2026** — Received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Dallas Baptist University on May 15.

## Achievements

- Co-founded a cinema company that operated 5,835 screens in 16 countries at his February 2023 board retirement.
- Served on the executive committee of the National Association of Theatre Owners for 20 years.
- Texas Business Hall of Fame inductee, 2011.
- NATO Marquee Award, 2011.
- Russell H. Perry Free Enterprise Award, jointly with Tandy Mitchell, 2015.
- Belgian Order of the Crown, Commander distinction, 2016.
- Honorary Doctor of Humanities, Dallas Baptist University, 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-05** — Dallas Baptist University conferred an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree on May 15.
- **2026-04** — Cinemark’s 2026 proxy reported beneficial ownership of 10,144,031 shares, or 8.7%, by Lee Roy Mitchell.
- **2023-02** — Retired from Cinemark’s board; son Kevin succeeded him as a Mitchell Investors designee.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-roy-mitchell-138953a2

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/lee-roy-mitchell
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-13