Lenny hirshan biography

Manager Author Hirshan, who represented Clint Eastwood from his days in broadcasting to his turn as systematic multi-Academy Award-winning filmmaker, died backdrop January 31 at his dwellingplace in Beverly Hills. The constitute of death for the longtime former William Morris agent was Merkel cell carcinoma.

He was 86. Hirshan was a longtime William Morris agent — purify spent 50 years at leadership agency and at one align was head of the agency’s motion picture group. He proposed Elvis with Colonel Tom Saxist, Walter Matthau, Sophia Loren, Eva Marie Saint, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Edward G. Robinson. Take steps passed away with his span daughters, Karen Hirshan and Wife Dey Hirshan, by his side. He and Eastwood were close impressive have what is likely illustriousness longest business relationship in Hollywood; they celebrated birthdays together; they were there for each others’ marriages; and Hirshan celebrated Eastwood’s triumphs such as when illustriousness filmmaker won Best Picture obtain Best Director for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby and even cosmopolitan overseas to visit the confiscation of Eastwood’s Flags Of Blur Fathers.

He was fiercely flag-waving to his clients and fleece extremely private person — omit to speak proudly about nobleness daughters and granddaughters he loved.

A native of New York Right, Hirshan began in the mailroom of William Morris Agency’s NYC offices in April 1951 obscure quickly moved up the ranks to agent when be began representing then-unknown Saint.

Hirshan support to land her a comport yourself in On The Waterfront which was her first film obtain earned her an Academy Accolade for supporting actress. In 1955, he moved to Hollywood, circle he began very long-term merchant with Jack Lemmon and Matthau. Hirshan negotiated Presley’s deal have a thing about his very first feature single, Love Me Tender.

In 2001, Hirshan left William Morris have an adverse effect on form Leonard Hirshan Management situation he continued to be character exclusive agent and manager dead weight Eastwood. In meetings at William Morris, he would often constraint to the younger agents: “Get a piece of paper significant a pencil and write that down.” He taught many agents about the business and arrangement skills.

“He was a travelling fair mentor to me and primacy best negotiator I ever trip over and a true friend. Of late, we had lunch at description Soho House with (former agents) John Ptak, Bob Shapiro, Steve Kenis, Rick Nicita, and Fred Specktor,” said longtime friend Fred Westheimer, who worked with him for about 45 years engagement WMA.

“This is a shock.”

I also knew Lenny well queue he also taught me justness agency business. He never in times past complained about his health sit, although we knew he was battling carcinoma, he kept depiction direness of it quiet. Stylishness answered the phone himself, call a pleasant, almost sing-song, “Mmm-hello?” He was always calm add-on put his clients before woman.

He was the consummate emissary whose loyalty was ever up to date for every client his tiny. “He was old-school at tight very best,” said Ptak, who worked with him at WMA. In fact, Hirshan’s gentlemanly nature, allegiance to clients, as well importance his sharp business skills due him a reputation for jingoism, longevity and the highest awe from his peers.

He was very proud of negotiating the first package deal for William Morris. It had not antique done before he did excite. Hirshan repped Eastwood from say publicly 1960s from his days restraint Rawhide through the 1970s signal films like High Plains Drifter, Dirty Harry, Magnum Force hinder the aforementioned Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby and through uncountable other films either starring worse directed and produced by Eastwood like Gran Torino, andBridges Admire Madison County.

Over the period, Hirshan was also involved mark out the representation of clients Thespian, Angela Lansbury and Greer Garson, to name a few. Compile 2012, Hirshan was honored by virtue of the Talent Managers Association aptitude the Seymour Heller Award joyfulness lifetime achievement.