George Shapiro
Born(1931-05-18)May 18, 1931
The Bronx, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 26, 2022(2022-05-26) (aged 91)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Alma materDeWitt Clinton High School
New York University
OccupationTalent agent
Spouse
Diane Barnett
​
(m. 1983)​

George Shapiro (May 18, 1931 – May 26, 2022) was an American talent manager and television producer. He was among the most successful managers in show business in the United States, best known for representing Jerry Seinfeld, Carl Reiner, and Andy Kaufman and serving as a producer for the sitcom Seinfeld.[1]

Early life and education

Shapiro was born in the Bronx[2][3] on May 18, 1931, to Sylvia (née Lebost) and Ira Shapiro.[4][5][6] His father worked as a furrier and his mother was a social activist.[4] He first met his future business partner, Howard West, in the third grade.[7] When Shapiro was 12, Carl Reiner married Shapiro's aunt, Estelle Lebost, and became his uncle.[8][1] He attended P.S. 80, DeWitt Clinton High School, before studying at New York University (NYU).[7]

Career

After completing his postgraduate studies at NYU in 1953, he served in the United States Army for two years.[4] He then worked in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency in New York. He advanced within the company and soon became an agent. One of his first assignments was to accompany Elvis Presley during his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Eventually, he began packaging programs, including the hits The Steve Allen Show, That Girl starring Marlo Thomas, and Gomer Pyle starring Jim Nabors. He also packaged a number of specials for Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing.[1][3]

Shapiro left William Morris to become a personal manager and producer along with his partner and friend, Howard West. They formed Shapiro/West Productions and executive produced the Emmy-, Peabody-, and Golden Globe award-winning series Seinfeld. Shapiro was Andy Kaufman's personal manager for many years, executive producing his Showtime special Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall and The Andy Kaufman Show on ABC. He was executive producer with West on the Universal biopic Man on the Moon (1999), starring Jim Carrey in the role of Andy Kaufman and Danny DeVito as Shapiro, and had a cameo in the movie as Mr. Besserman. He played a prominent role in the documentary Comedian featuring Seinfeld.[1][3]

On June 30, 2012, people from the world of comedy gathered at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills to honor Shapiro. The David Lynch Foundation presented him with the first Lifetime of Bliss Award. He said he had been practicing Transcendental Meditation for 28 years.[9][10]

Personal life

Shapiro was married to Diane Barnett who died of breast cancer in 2005.[11]

Shapiro was married to Melody Sherr prior to his marriage to Diane. Together, they had three children: Danny, Carrie, and Stefanie.[12][13]

Shapiro died of natural causes on May 26, 2022, at his home in Beverly Hills, aged 91.[14]

Filmography

As a producer

Year Title Notes
1977The Last Remake of Beau Geste[15][16]
1979Andy's Funhouse[17]TV special Documentary
1980Andy Kaufman plays Carnegie Hall[17]Comedy Special
1980In God We Tru$t[15][16]
1981Lewis & Clark[18]Episode: Welcome to Luckenbach
1985Summer Rental[15][17]
1987Summer School[15][17]
1987Jerry Seinfeld: Stand-Up Confidential[19]Standup Special
1987Elayne Boosler: Broadway Baby[19]Standup Special
1989Bert Rigby, You're a Fool[15][16]
1990Sibling Rivalry[15][16]
1995A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman[19][20]Television Special
1989-98Seinfeld[16][17]173 episodes
1999Man on the Moon[16][17]
2003The Bronx Boys[19][20]Documentary
2004The Seinfeld Story[16][17]Documentary
2011Colin Quinn: Long Story Short[20]Comedy Special
2010-11The Marriage Ref[17]22 episodes
2013The Bronx Boys Still Playing at 80[12]Documentary
2016-17The Dick Van Dyke Show: Now in Living Color![20]Television Special
2017If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast[20][21]Documentary, HBO
2017Jerry Before Seinfeld[14]Comedy Special, Netflix; final film role

As an actor

Year Title Role Notes
1999Man on the Moon[16][21]Mr. Besserman
2002Comedian[19]HimselfDocumentary
2016Dying Laughing[16]HimselfDocumentary
2017If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast[20][21]HimselfDocumentary, HBO
2017Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond[20]HimselfDocumentary, Netflix
2019The Bronx, USA[17][20]HimselfDocumentary

Awards and nominations

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Category Project Result Ref.
1992 Outstanding Comedy Series Seinfeld Nominated [22]
1993 Outstanding Comedy Series Won
1994 Outstanding Comedy Series Nominated
1995 Outstanding Comedy Series Nominated
Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special A Comedy Salute to Andy Kaufman Nominated
1996 Outstanding Comedy Series Seinfeld Nominated
1997 Outstanding Comedy Series Nominated
1998 Outstanding Comedy Series Nominated
2016 Outstanding Variety Talk Series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Nominated
2019 Outstanding Informational Series Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Whetsell, Tripp (May 25, 2018). "Veteran Talent Manager George Shapiro Looks Back on Early Career". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  2. ↑ New York, New York, Birth Index, 1910-1965
  3. 1 2 3 Cohen, Benyamin (July 24, 2003). "Last Comic Standing". Jewsweek. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 Sandomir, Richard (June 2, 2022). "George Shapiro, Talent Manager Who Pushed for 'Seinfeld,' Dies at 91". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  5. ↑ Barnes, Mike (May 28, 2022). "George Shapiro, Personal Manager and 'Seinfeld' Producer, Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  6. ↑ D'Angelo, Bob (May 29, 2022). "George Shapiro, who managed Jerry Seinfeld, Andy Kaufman, dead at 91". WFTV. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  7. 1 2 Isenberg, Barbara (September 20, 2004). "Meet the Bronx Boys". Time. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  8. ↑ Marc Maron, "Carl Reiner" episode of WTF podcast, 20130207
  9. ↑ "Highlights of David Lynch Foundation's Night of Comedy Honoring George Shapiro". David Lynch Foundation.
  10. ↑ Paquette, Danielle (July 2, 2012). "For Russell Brand, meditation puts life in perspective". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. ↑ "George Shapiro, Talent Manager Who Pushed for 'Seinfeld,' Dies at 91". The New York Times. June 2, 2022. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Littleton, Cynthia (May 28, 2022). "George Shapiro, Producer and Manager of Jerry Seinfeld and Andy Kaufman, Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  13. ↑ "'Seinfeld' producer George Shapiro dead at 91". Toronto Sun. May 29, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Rice, Lynette (May 28, 2022). "George Shapiro Dies: Legendary Talent Manager & 'Seinfeld' Producer Was 91". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "George Shapiro". American Film Institute. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "George Shapiro". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "George Shapiro". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  18. ↑ Leszczak, Bob (May 17, 2016). Single Season Sitcoms of the 1980s: A Complete Guide. McFarland. p. 85. ISBN 9780786499588.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 "George Shapiro – Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "George Shapiro List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  21. 1 2 3 "George Shapiro". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  22. ↑ "George Shapiro – Awards & Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
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