Lew Wasserman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lew Wasserman
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Wasserman in 1969
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| Born |
Lewis Robert Wasserman
March 22, 1913 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | June 3, 2002 (aged 89) |
| Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Hollywood studio head; talent agent |
| Spouse(s) |
Edith Beckerman
(m. 1936–2002) |
| Children | 1 |
Lewis Robert Wasserman (March 22, 1913 – June 3, 2002) was a very important person in Hollywood. He was a talent agent and a boss of movie studios. Many people called him one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood for decades. His career lasted from the 1920s to the 2000s.
He started working as an usher in a movie theater. Later, he became the president of a company called MCA. He even led MCA to buy Universal Pictures. During his time, Lew Wasserman made big changes in the entertainment world. In 1995, he received a special award called the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award was given to him by President Bill Clinton.
Contents
Lew Wasserman's Career
Early Life and Beginnings
Lew Wasserman was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents, Isaac Wasserman and Minnie Chernick, came from Russia. He began his career in show business in 1933. He worked as an usher in a Cleveland theater.
Later, he became a booking agent for the Music Corporation of America (MCA). This company was started by Jules Stein. MCA helped musicians find jobs and performances.
Becoming a Hollywood Leader
Under Lew Wasserman, MCA started to represent actors and actresses. Before this, they mainly worked with musicians. This change helped create the "star system" in Hollywood. This system meant that famous actors could ask for higher pay.
At first, MCA faced challenges in Hollywood. Other big agencies already represented many famous actors. But in the mid-1940s, MCA bought one of these agencies. This helped MCA gain more power in Hollywood. Wasserman's MCA became very strong. They represented big stars like Bette Davis and Ronald Reagan.
Lew Wasserman was also important in politics. He helped raise money for the Democratic Party. He was also a close friend and mentor to Ronald Reagan. Reagan later became a U.S. President. Wasserman and his friend Jack Valenti were known for their influence. Their support often helped political campaigns win.
Changing How Movies Were Made
Wasserman made a business practice called "film packaging" more popular. After World War II, movie studios made fewer movies. They also let more actors out of their long-term contracts. This meant agencies like MCA could get better deals for their clients.
Agents like Wasserman would put together a "package" for a studio. This package might include a writer, a director, and an actor. The studio then only needed to pay for the movie to be made. In a way, agencies started doing some of the work that studios used to do.
Wasserman also used a smart way for actors to pay less tax. This idea was started by earlier agents. It allowed an actor to set up a company for themselves. This company would own part of a movie the actor appeared in. The money would go to the company, which was taxed at a lower rate.
Wasserman used this plan with actor James Stewart. This started with the movie Winchester '73 (1950). This was the first time an actor received "points in the film." This meant they got a share of the movie's profits. This business idea became very popular after Wasserman's deal.
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After television became popular, many movie studios struggled. In 1962, Wasserman bought Universal Studios and Decca Records. He combined them with MCA. In 1966, he helped make Jack Valenti the head of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Together, they had a lot of control over Hollywood for many years.
Wasserman led the combined company for almost 30 years. In 1990, he sold it to a Japanese company called Matsushita Electric.
There is a statue of Lew Wasserman at Universal Studios Florida. It is in the New York section of the park. This statue honors him because he helped build the park.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1993, Wasserman helped create Universal CityWalk. He also made many big changes to the Universal City area. He earned a lot of money from selling MCA. He stayed on as a manager, but his power became less.
In 1995, another company called Seagram bought control of MCA. This made Wasserman's role even smaller. He served on the company's board of directors until 1998. On September 29, 1995, President Bill Clinton gave Wasserman the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1996, he was honored in the Television Hall of Fame.
Death and Honors
Lew Wasserman passed away in Beverly Hills, California in 2002. He died from problems after a stroke. He was buried in Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California. On October 5, 2007, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This was a special honor given after his death.
Family Life
Lew Wasserman was married to Edith "Edie" Beckerman. They had one daughter named Lynne Kay Wasserman. Lynne later had a daughter named Carol Ann Leif. She also had a son named Casey Wasserman.
Lew Wasserman's grandson, Casey Wasserman, continues the family business. He started the Wasserman Media Group (WMG) in 1998. Casey is also the head of the Wasserman Foundation. This is a charitable organization that the Wassermans started in 1952.
Lew Wasserman's granddaughter, Carol Ann Leif, is a stand-up comedian. His wife, Edie, passed away in 2011 at the age of 95.
Images for kids
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Wasserman in 1969
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Statue of Wasserman at Universal Studios Florida
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Wasserman in 1988
See also
In Spanish: Lew Wasserman para niños
