Former William Morris Agency President Jerry Katzman dies at 89

Jerry Katzman, the former president and vice chairman of the William Morris Agency, died on 9 August in Los Angeles surrounded by his family. He was 89. Katzman spent 30 years at the agency, rising to the roles of president and vice chairman during the 1990s. He was a key figure in developing the modern television 'packaging' model, in which agencies represent talent while also assembling and developing the various elements required for a production. Born into a show business family, his father, Sam Katzman, was a producer known as the 'King of the B-Movies', and his mother was an actress. After graduating from Beverly Hills High School, Katzman attended the University of California, Berkeley, and the UCLA School of Law. Following a brief stint in law, Katzman moved into film production during the 1960s and 1970s, working alongside his father. His credits from this period include the Elvis Presley films Kissin' Cousins and Harum Scarum, The Fastest Guitar Alive starring Roy Orbison, and Hold On! featuring Peter Noone.