Legendary film producer and former Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe agent in Hollywood passes away from «natural causes»
The renowned Hollywood agent and film producer Jay Kanter passed away at the age of 97.
According to TMZ, Kanter, who served as the agent for legendary actors Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe, died away on Tuesday at his Beverly Hills residence.
Adam Kanter, his son, informed the publication that his father passed away «surrounded by his family» and «peacefully from natural causes.»
Other A-list celebrities that Kanter represented were Gene Kelly, Ronald Reagan, Grace Kelly, and Warren Beatty.
Eventually, he made the switch to film production, contributing to iconic movies like Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, Alien, and Police Academy and Star Wars movies.
Following the Second World War, Kanter secured a job at a well-known Hollywood agency, where he received guidance from the late, great film producer Lew Wasserman.
At the age of 22, Jay persuaded Godfather actor Brando to take on a clientele.
Throughout Brando’s career, the working partnership persisted and developed into a lifetime friendship.
Along with working on Spaceballs, Silent Movie, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, and Life Stinks, he was also pals with Mel Brooks.
After Universal Pictures was acquired by MCA, Kanter moved his family to London to manage production for the studio’s European branch.
He then teamed up with Elliott Kastner and Alan Ladd Jr. (Laddie) to start a production firm once the European operations were shut down.
Later, Ladd invited Kanter to join him after returning to Los Angeles to accept an executive role at 20th Century Fox.
This was the start of a collaboration that included top positions at MGM/UA, The Ladd Company, and 20th Century Fox.
On December 12, 1926, Muriel and Harry Kanter welcomed Kanter into the world in Chicago, Illinois.
He had three marriages. Less than a year separated him and actress Roberta Haynes in their first marriage.
Later on, he wed Judy Balaban, the daughter of honorary chairman and former president of Paramount Pictures Barney Balaban.
Kit Bennett Kanter, with whom Kanter was married for the third and longest time, died in 2014 after 49 years of marriage.
Victoria Kanter Colombetti, his daughter, also passed away during his lifetime.
His children Dustin (and Debra) Bernard, Tom, Cydney, Amy (and Bob Thiele), Adam (and Brooke), Michael (and Erica), and Amy Kanter (and Erica) are all alive, as are his grandkids.
August 9, 2024, Friday, will be the date of private services.
The family requests donations to the Jules Stein Eye Institute or the Motion Picture Television Fund in lieu of flowers.
