Lew Wasserman

Lew Wasserman was an American talent agent and studio executive who became one of the most powerful figures in 20th-century Hollywood. As the longtime leader of MCA Inc., he revolutionized the entertainment industry by pioneering the packaging of talent and shifting economic power from studios to stars and their representatives. His formidable influence extended into national Democratic Party politics and major philanthropic endeavors, cementing his legacy as a transformative and often feared architect of modern show business.

Early life and career

Born in Cleveland to Jewish immigrants from Russia, he began his career as a theater usher before joining the Music Corporation of America (MCA) in 1936 at its Chicago office. Under the mentorship of MCA founder Jules Stein, he quickly demonstrated a keen aptitude for the agency business, learning the intricacies of talent representation and contract negotiation. He relocated to Los Angeles in the early 1940s, where he began cultivating relationships with emerging stars and influential studio heads, laying the groundwork for his future dominance. His marriage to Edith Beckerman in 1936 provided a stable personal partnership that lasted throughout his life.

Rise at MCA

Wasserman's rise accelerated after World War II, as he aggressively expanded MCA's client roster to include major stars like Bette Davis, Jack Benny, and Ronald Reagan. He fundamentally altered the industry's financial model by negotiating the first "back-end" profit participation deal for his client James Stewart for the Universal film Winchester '73, transferring wealth and control from studios to actors. This period also saw MCA's expansion into television production through its subsidiary Revue Studios, which produced hit series like General Electric Theater and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His leadership was instrumental in navigating the complex legal challenges of the era, including antitrust scrutiny from the United States Department of Justice.

Leadership in Hollywood

After orchestrating MCA's landmark acquisition of Universal Studios in 1962, Wasserman effectively became the head of a major film studio while still controlling a vast talent agency, an unprecedented consolidation of power. As chairman of MCA, he oversaw the modernization of the Universal Studios Lot, the development of the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, and the production of blockbuster films such as Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. His management style was famously autocratic and detail-oriented, earning him the nickname "The Octopus" for his far-reaching control. He cultivated key relationships with directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Steven Spielberg, and executives such as Sidney Sheinberg, ensuring Universal Pictures' commercial success for decades.

Political influence and philanthropy

Wasserman was a formidable force in national politics, serving as a major fundraiser and advisor for the Democratic Party and presidents from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton. He was a close confidant of Ronald Reagan long before his political career and played a crucial role in Hollywood's advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., particularly regarding copyright law and telecommunications policy. His philanthropic efforts were substantial, with major contributions to institutions like the Motion Picture & Television Fund, the United Jewish Appeal, and the UCLA Medical Center, which was renamed the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center following a historic donation.

Later years and legacy

Following the sale of MCA to the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. of Japan in 1990 and later to Seagram Company Ltd. in 1995, Wasserman's operational role diminished, though he remained a revered and influential eminence grise. He received numerous honors, including the Academy Honorary Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Upon his death in Beverly Hills, he was widely eulogized as the last of the classic Hollywood moguls, a figure who indelibly shaped the business practices, political engagement, and philanthropic culture of the entertainment industry. His legacy endures in the corporate structures of modern Hollywood and the continued power of talent agencies.

Category:American film producers Category:American talent agents Category:1913 births Category:2002 deaths