Lew Wasserman
 Lew Wasserman    (Hollywood studio head, mobster, deep state operative) | |
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| Born | March 22, 1913 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | June 3, 2002 (Age 89) Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | US |
| Member of | The 1001 Club |
| Interests | Ronald Reagan |
| Interest of | Sidney Korshak |
Lewis Robert Wasserman was an American talent agent and studio executive, and "arguably the most powerful and influential Hollywood titan in the four decades after World War II."[1] His career spanned the nine decades from the 1920s to the 2000s. Starting his career working as a casino manager for the mob, his rise at the mob-owned MCA was meteoric, and he rose to become the president of MCA and led its takeover of Universal Pictures, during which time Wasserman “brought about changes in virtually every aspect of show business.”[2]
Wasserman’s rise brought him in contact with the underworlds of both Cleveland and Chicago; MCA’s ascendance in Hollywood in the late 30s was simultaneous with the Chicago Mob’s infiltration, through union control, of the movie business, and with mobster Sidney Korshak’s own move to the West Coast. Wasserman was perhaps the most powerful and revered figure in Hollywood, and Sidney Korshak was perhaps his closest friend.[3]
Wasserman was an influential player and fundraiser in the Democratic Party, but was also a lifelong and instrumental advocate, mentor, and close friend of Reagan,[4] and protected Reagan from any taint of dirty money.[5]
References
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/04/business/lew-wasserman-89-is-dead-last-of-hollywood-s-moguls.html
- ↑ https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/lew-wasserman-birthday-mover-shaker-1201721984/
- ↑ https://www.vanityfair.com/news/1997/04/The-Man-Who-Kept-The-Secrets
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100205052239/http://newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Lew_Wasserman.php
- ↑ http://purplepinupguru.blogspot.com/2005/04/reagans-darker-side-reagans-mob.html
