Talent agent Brokaw served Monroe, Presley
LOS ANGELES — Norman Brokaw, a trailblazing talent agent who represented Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Clint Eastwood and other top Hollywood stars, has died at 89.
Brokaw ascended from the mailroom of the William Morris Agency to become its CEO in 1989. Along the way he helped steer actors to work in the fledgling television industry in the 1950s and later signed politicians such as Gerald Ford and Alexander Haig so they could chart careers after they left public service.
His TV plan involved teaming up under-utilized film stars with directors who were skilled at delivering low budget movies within a few days, his family said in a news release. The formula led to the creation of early TV series such as “Racket Squad” and “Public Defender.”
He later represented the producers behind hit shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Gomer Pyle,” and “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
He also served as Bill Cosby’s agent, helping get him cast on “I Spy” and crafting deals that led to the creation of “The Cosby Show.”
