8 Top Celebrity Managers of Lucrative Entertainment Industry
A celebrity manager takes care of their clients’ career making sure their name is known and using that to their advantage to book jobs and sign large endorsement contracts. They can handle only one client or can manage several clients’ careers if they work for a large management agency.
Below are some of the best celebrity managers responsible for bigger names in the entertainment industry:
Rich Ross
The president of the Disney Channel worldwide caught our hearts with High School Musical (HSM). The TV film that made a star of Zac Efron was the second-most watched show on the UK Disney Channel in 2006; and it’s now been seen by 170m people worldwide, raking in more than $100m. Anticipation is mounting for the cinematic release of High School Musical 3: Senior Year this autumn.
As boss of Disney’s kids TV business worldwide, Ross is responsible for 67 channels which reach more than 600m viewers in more than 100 countries, and the accompanying merchandising. His canny management of these franchises has made them international phenomena: a spin-off HSM-based reality TV show is about to launch in the US — Brazil and Argentina have already run audition-style TV shows in which contestants can audition for local versions of the HSM film. Disney shows are available online so fans can re-edit their favourite episodes, adding or cutting songs and scenes. Hannah Montana boutiques open in 170 Wal-Marts in the US this summer.
Thierry Fremaux
He is the Artistic director of Cannes Film Festival.Before Thierry Frémaux took over in 2001, the Cannes Film Festival was regarded as strictly anti-Hollywood. But Thierry was happy to communicate with the studios. His dedication paid off: he secured Moulin Rouge! in 2001 and a YSL-clad Nicole Kidman for the opening night. Cannes now rivals the Oscars for international glamour and press frenzy.
This year’s festival saw premieres of films from Clint Eastwood and Steven Soderbergh and Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Such Hollywood heavy-hitters bring the world’s press to the Croisette and vital publicity to smaller films from Europe and emerging markets.
Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Rachel Osbourne is an English television host, media personality, television talent competition judge, author, music manager, businesswoman, and promoter, and the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne. She first came into public prominence after appearing in The Osbournes, a reality show about the family.
She is a businessperson, TV producer, promoter, film producer, and talent manager. She has successfully pulled off: Austin Powers: Goldmember, America’s Got Talent, The X Factor (UK), The X Factor, The Osbournes series.
Mike Shinoda
Michael Kenji “Mike” Shinoda LHD is an American musician, record producer, and artist. He co-founded Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band’s rhythm guitarist, songwriter, keyboardist, and co-vocalist. Shinoda later created a hip hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2003.
Mike has been a record producer, guitarist, songwriter, rapper, and musician. He is responsible for representing: The Raid: Redemption, Frat Party at the Pankake Festival, Dark as Day, and The Seed.
Simon Fuller
Simon Fuller is an English entrepreneur, artist manager and television producer. He is best known for being the creator of the Idol franchise, which was first seen in the UK under the name Pop Idol and created number one rated shows in other markets as well, including American Idol in the US.
Simon is TV producer, entrepreneur, film producer, screenwriter, talent manager. He works with: American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, So You Think You Can Dance — Season 2, Little Britain USA, Seeing Double, and others.
Sam Gores
Sam Gores runs the small but prestigious Paradigm agency, which represents heavy hitters like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Katherine Heigl, Gary Oldman, Michael Cera, Neil Patrick Harris, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Andy Garcia, and Gores just scammed Adrien Brody away from larger agencies. He’s also helped package the shows Desperate Housewives, 24 and Rescue Me, and represents groups like Aerosmith, the Black Eyed Peas and the Dave Matthews Band.
Patrick Whitesell
Patrick Whitesell was a major player at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) as the co-head of its talent department, but unexpectedly moved to Endeavor to become its 10th partner. Representing a number of the biggest stars in Hollywood, he has become a small-time celebrity himself. The paparazzi have even spotted him buying $2,000 shoes.
His top clients include: Jennifer Garner, Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Ben Affleck, Ellen Page, Jude Law, and Joaquin Phoenix.
Kevin Huvane
Coming from a Hollywood family, Kevin Huvane seems to be made for agency work and he has the most impressive list of clients next to his CAA boss Richard Lovett. Multi-million dollar deals are a daily thing for Huvane, who recently brokered Oprah Winfrey’s deal with Discovery Communications for OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network). That’s just what the world needs, more Oprah.
Among his top clients are: Brad Pitt, Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Clive Owen, Michelle Pfeiffer, Sarah Jessica Parker, Uma Thurman, and Renée Zellweger.