Motion Picture Producer, Talent Agent. He is considered Hollywood's first "Super Agent." He started a Hollywood, California law practice in 1928, representing several agents, but became an agent himself when it proved more profitable. His nearly three hundred clients included Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Ida Lupino, John Wayne, Richard Burton, Charles Boyer, William Holden, and Kirk Douglas. He was one of the first agents to realize the potential of one-picture deals for his clients as opposed to long-term studio contracts: the former, he believed, were better salary- and career-wise in the long run for the client, and more profitable for the agent. As a producer, he originated the "package deal," whereby a story property was mated with a star and director. While functioning as both agent and producer, he declined agent fees from any of his clients who worked in his productions: this made him one of the few agents to receive the approval and cooperation of the Screen Actors' Guild and similar organizations for such two-way projects. Films he produced include "To Have and Have Not," "The Big Sleep," "The Red Pony," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Seven-Year Itch," "Walk on the Wild Side," "The Seventh Dawn," "What's New, Pussycat?," "The Group," and "Casino Royale." He was married for a number of years to actress Jean Howard.
Motion Picture Producer, Talent Agent. He is considered Hollywood's first "Super Agent." He started a Hollywood, California law practice in 1928, representing several agents, but became an agent himself when it proved more profitable. His nearly three hundred clients included Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, Ida Lupino, John Wayne, Richard Burton, Charles Boyer, William Holden, and Kirk Douglas. He was one of the first agents to realize the potential of one-picture deals for his clients as opposed to long-term studio contracts: the former, he believed, were better salary- and career-wise in the long run for the client, and more profitable for the agent. As a producer, he originated the "package deal," whereby a story property was mated with a star and director. While functioning as both agent and producer, he declined agent fees from any of his clients who worked in his productions: this made him one of the few agents to receive the approval and cooperation of the Screen Actors' Guild and similar organizations for such two-way projects. Films he produced include "To Have and Have Not," "The Big Sleep," "The Red Pony," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Seven-Year Itch," "Walk on the Wild Side," "The Seventh Dawn," "What's New, Pussycat?," "The Group," and "Casino Royale." He was married for a number of years to actress Jean Howard.
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