Years active 1966–2010 | Name Ed Limato Role Talent agent | |
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Died July 3, 2010, Beverly Hills, California, United States | ||
Christopher Lockhart agency story editor interview
Edward Frank "Ed" Limato (July 10, 1936 – July 3, 2010) was an American talent agent and a senior vice president at the William Morris Agency, representing clients such as Michelle Pfeiffer, Nicolas Cage, Mel Gibson, Steve Martin, Diana Ross, Richard Gere, and Denzel Washington. Before coming to WMA, Limato was a partner and co-president at International Creative Management for more than a decade, from 1988 to 1999.
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Life and career
Limato grew up in a working-class Italian family in Mount Vernon, New York. He worked as a disc jockey and traveled to Europe, where he got a job as assistant to Franco Zeffirelli. Zeffirelli's agent helped Limato get a mailroom job at Ashley-Famous Agency in New York. That agency eventually merged to become International Creative Management (ICM).
Limato transferred to Los Angeles, and he eventually moved to the William Morris Agency. He later returned to ICM, rising to co-president. He sued ICM in 2007 after they tried to move him to an emeritus position. Limato prevailed in the case and returned to William Morris with his clients.
Limato was on the board of directors at Abercrombie & Fitch. He also served on the boards of the Los Angeles Conservancy, American Cinematheque, and the Motion Picture and Television Fund. Limato died of emphysema complicated by pneumonia in home, just one week short of his 74th birthday.
The movie Flight (2012 film) is dedicated to Limato, as well as Unstoppable (2010 film) (and also to Hollie Haines Knowlton).