Norman brokaw william morris agency
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Behind his legendary success was an unshakeable optimism that compelled him to look beyond limits and pursue infinite opportunity for his clients and his company.
As an agent, Brokaw defined diversity and dynamism. The list of his past clients – including Marilyn Monroe, Loretta Young, Clint Eastwood, Danny Thomas, Andy Griffith, Mary Hart, President Gerald R.
Ford, Mrs. Betty Ford, Dr. Armand Hammer, General Alexander Haig, Dr. C. Everett Koop, Caspar Weinberger, Tony Orlando, Priscilla Presley, Tony Randall, Donna Summer, Hank Aaron, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Kim Novak, Juliette Lewis, Marcia Clark, Chris Darden, Brooke Shields, Malcolm Jamal Warner, General Claudia Kennedy, Senator James Jeffords, Lt.
Shane Osborn and Bill Cosby – is so varied it reads like a catalogue of the trends and leaders of twentieth century cultural, social and political history. Brokaw’s philosophy of talent – that it could be found in every area of human public pursuit – changed the very nature of the agenting business.
As Chairman, Brokaw carried this tradition of service and sagacity to the newest generation of young and creative agents as the William Morris Agency nurtured the talents of the next century. As an industry leader, he joined the ranks of those most remarkable men, such as Abe Lastfogel, Jules Stein, Lew Wasserman, Charles Feldman and Myron Selznick, who shaped the image of the modern agent.
While Brokaw was best known for helping American talents realize their dreams, his own story was a Hollywood fairy tale come true.
“I always said no,” he said in the Rensin book. “He combined those two roles with warmth, humor, true friendship and a rare talent for people — knowing who did what best and how to put them together for success. He left behind his wife Marguerite Longley, six children, and four grandchildren.
Norman once said, “There are four chambers in the human heart.
I appreciate what they did for me. Later, while having lunch with Monroe at the Brown Derby in Hollywood, he introduced her to her future husband, New York Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio.
Brokaw had dinner on Monday and Friday nights with Lastfogel, who said to him one day, “We’re going to start working with something called television.
Norman Brokaw, a Stalwart at William Morris, Dies at 89
Norman Brokaw, who went from mailroom to mogul during a lifetime spent at the William Morris Agency, has died. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
NORMAN BROKAW*
*deceased
Norman Brokaw’s career as a long-time talent agent and Chairman of the William Morris Agency (now William Morris Endeavor) spanned the evolutions of entertainment.
He was the nephew of Morris agent Johnny Hyde and rose by getting to know the inner workings of...
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Later, Brokaw branched the agency into such unexplored areas as sports (Mark Spitz, Henry Aaron), politics (Gerald and Betty Ford, Alexander Haig, Nancy Pelosi) and news (Oliver North, Marcia Clark), realizing that talent could be unearthed from just about anywhere.
It all began for Brokaw in July 1943, when at age 15 he was offered a mailroom job at WMA in its Los Angeles office by Johnny Hyde, his uncle and a partner in the company.
And after William Morris announced a merger with Endeavor in April 2009, his take of the deal was a reported $4.25 million. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. We’re the oldest company in the business, and the sky was always the limit.”
In my heart, there are really three.
“Among other things, he started me in the movie business by putting me together with [director] Sidney Furie on [the 1972 film] Lady Sings the Blues.
Brokaw had a 48-year relationship with Cosby, which began with the 1965-68 NBC series I Spy and continued through films, other television shows, commercials, albums, books, comedy tours and personal appearances.
In 2010, Brokaw was the recipient of the Governors Award from the TV Academy.
Said David Geffen, who like Brokaw and another media mogul, Barry Diller, began at William Morris: “Norman Brokaw like many of us started out in the mailroom at William Morris, but the difference is he came first and paved the way for the rest of us.”
Brokaw’s survivors include his sons David, Sandy (they are twins) and Joel, founders in 1976 of the publicity firm The Brokaw Co., which represents Cosby (David Brokaw has been the comedian’s publicist for more than four decades); his wife Marguerite; and daughters Barbara, Lauren and Wendy.
New to L.A.
from New York and just a kid, Brokaw was mentored by Abe Lastfogel, like Hyde a partner at the firm (Lastfogel also had started out in the mailroom at a very young age). They are the most important elements of my life – my family, the William Morris Agency, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He took home $21.40 a week after taxes.
In February 1989, Brokaw was elected WMA president and CEO (succeeding Lee Stevens, who had just died of lymphoma), and two years later he added the title of chairman, replacing Lou Weiss.
Brokaw surrendered the CEO crown in 1997 upon turning 70 and eventually became chairman emeritus.
He was 89.
Brokaw packaged talent for radio, paving the way for similar, highly lucrative agency efforts in television and, indeed, helped start Wma’s television division, luring major film stars to TV. His contract negotiations for actress Kim Novakled to increased profit participation deals for talent, and he guided the career of Bill Cosby.
Brokaw went on to rep such clients as Kim Novak, Natalie Wood, Susan Hayward, Danny Thomas, Andy Griffith, Barbara Walters, Donna Summer, Mary Hart, Priscilla Presley, Ivana Trump, Berry Gordy, C. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. Agent Ben Holzman, who handled Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor and The Marx Brothers, befriended the youngster.
Brokaw became the company’s first trainee at age 20, then became a secretary to agents Moe Sackin, Murray File and Joe Schoenfeld, the future editor of Variety.
Brokaw drove Lana Turner to meet MGM studio chief Louis.
Everett Koop, Helen Reddy and Natalie Gulbis.
“Norman Brokaw was my friend and my agent for many years,” Gordy said in a statement. “I wanted to stay at William Morris because I respect and love the company.