JAY
BERNSTEIN
1937 - 2006 |
Jay Bernstein, one of Hollywood's
most influential publicists and managers, passed away on
April 30th at Cedars-Sinai in Beverly Hills after suffering
a massive stroke. He was 68. Long time friend and client
Farrah Fawcett was at his bedside when he died.
Born June 7, 1937 in Oklahoma City, the versatile Bernstein
worked as a publicist and manager, representing names like
Farrah Fawcett, Suzanne Somers, Drew Barrymore, Brooke Shields,
Pamela Anderson, Lee Majors, Jim Carrey, Faye Dunaway, Sammy
Davis Jr., Glenn Ford, Ernest Borgnine and Tony Bennett
among dozens of others. As a personal manager, he helped
make then unknown actresses Suzanne Somers, Farrah Fawcett
and Kristy McNichol into household names. As a publicist,
he created memorable campaigns including having Mary Hart's
legs insured for a million dollars.
He began his career in the William Morris mail room, followed
by a lengthy stint working at Rogers & Cowan. He then
opened his own PR firm before seguing into the management
business. He later became a succesful television producer,
producing series including "Mike Hammer".
