Ted Ashley (August 3, 1922 – August 24, 2002) was the chairman of the Warner Bros. film studio from 1969 to 1980 and founder of the Ashley-Famous talent agency.
Ashley was born to a poor Jewish family in Brooklyn in 1922 as Theodore Assofsky.[1][2] He graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School.[1] At the age of 14, he went to work at the William Morris Agency where his uncle, Nat Lefkowitz, worked as a general manager (Lefkowitz would later rise to become president and then co-chairman of the William Morris Agency).[3] At the age of 20, he became an agent for the agency and changed his name to "Ashley" as it sounded dignified and English.[1] In 1945, despite the ire of his uncle, he started his own talent agency, Ted Ashley and Associates[1]
In 1950, he was joined by William Morris agent Ira L. Steiner and the agency was renamed the Ashley-Steiner Agency.[4][5] In 1962, he purchased the Famous Artists Agency from Charles K. Feldman and renamed the agency Ashley-Steiner-Famous Artists.[6] In 1964, Steiner resigned to form his own film production company and the agency was renamed Ashley-Famous.[7] In 1967, the agency was sold to Kinney National Company in exchange for 12,750,000 in Kinney stock.[1] Ashley made the sale for personal reasons, indicating that he did not want to be an agent anymore. In an interview, Ashley quotes, “There's something undermining to one's sense of one's self about that whole relationship” (referencing the agent and client partnership).[1]
In 1969, Kinney head Steve Ross acquired the cash-strapped film company Warner Bros.-Seven Arts at Ashley's suggestion. The purchase was made and Ashley was appointed CEO of the movie studio where he served until 1981. Beginning with the unexpected success of the concert documentary Woodstock (1970), the company started scoring box office hits again, reestablishing Warner Bros. as a major studio. He then became vice chairman of Warner Communications until his retirement in 1988.
Personal life
Ashley was married three times. In 1945, he married 18-year-old Constance "Connie" Sitomar.[1] She later worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His second wife was Joyce Easton (born 1930), a character actress on television shows such as Days of Our Lives; they married in 1978 after a lengthy relationship. She had occasionally represented Ashley when he was absent from Warner Bros board meetings, without herself being employed by Warner. Together, Easton and Ashley participated in Erhard Seminars Training around 1975.[8] By 1990, he was living with his third wife, Page Cuddy.[9] He died aged 80 in New York of leukemia, after a long illness.[10][9] He had two biological daughters: Fran Curtis Dubin and Diane Ashley; and two adopted daughters, Kim Balin and Banhi Sinclair[10][9] whom he and his third wife adopted after the death of actress Ina Balin.[11] Ashley was good friends with Bruce Lee.[12]
References
^ abcdefgFleming, Karl (June 24, 1974). "Who is Ted Ashley? Just the King of Hollywood, Baby". New York. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
^"Nat Lefkowitz, a former co-chairman of the William Morris Agency, the theatrical talent agency with which he was associated for 56 years, died Sunday in New York University Medical Center, where he had undergone heart surgery". New York Times. September 6, 1983.
^Steiner Joins Ashley Firm. Billboard. August 12, 1950.
^"Ira L. Steiner, 70; Veteran Talent Agent". Los Angeles Times. February 17, 1985. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
^Rose, Frank (1995). The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business. New York: Harper Business. p. 104,263. ISBN9780887307492.
^"WNDT Aides To Meet On Gould Successor". The New York Times. May 26, 1964. Ira L. Steiner announced yesterday he had resigned as executive vice president of AshleySteinerFamous Artists, Inc., a theatrical talent agency involved in the production of many television shows. Mr. Steiner said he would form a company to produce films for motion pictures and television.
^King, Thomas R. (2001). The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood. Broadway Books. pp. 259, 271. ISBN9780767907576.
^ abcLos Angeles Times: "Ted Ashley, 80; Talent Agent Also Ran Warner Bros. Studio" by Myrna Oliver August 26, 2002
^ abNew York Times: "Ted Ashley, 80, Former Head of Warner Brothers" By ALAN FEUER August 26, 2002
^"Actress Ina Balin, who as Saigon "was falling in 1975 helped spirit 217 Vietnamese orphans out of the city and ended up adopting three of them herself, died at the age of 52 of lung disease in New Haven, Conn". People. July 9, 1990.
^Goldman, Albert (January 1, 1983). "The Deadliest Man on the Planet: The Life and Death of Bruce Lee". Penthouse Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2020.[permanent dead link]
External links
July 17, 2023
ashley, august, 1922, august, 2002, chairman, warner, bros, film, studio, from, 1969, 1980, founder, ashley, famous, talent, agency, borntheodore, assofskyaugust, 1922brooklyndiedaugust, 2002, 2002, aged, nationalityamericanoccupationmedia, executiveknown, for. Ted Ashley August 3 1922 August 24 2002 was the chairman of the Warner Bros film studio from 1969 to 1980 and founder of the Ashley Famous talent agency Ted AshleyBornTheodore AssofskyAugust 3 1922BrooklynDiedAugust 24 2002 2002 08 24 aged 80 NationalityAmericanOccupationMedia executiveKnown forChairman of the Warner Bros studioSpousesConnie Sitomar divorced wbr Page Cuddy until death ChildrenFran Ashley Dubin Diane Ashley Kim Ashley Balin Ba nhi Ashley SinclairFamilyNat Lefkowitz uncle Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditAshley was born to a poor Jewish family in Brooklyn in 1922 as Theodore Assofsky 1 2 He graduated from Franklin K Lane High School 1 At the age of 14 he went to work at the William Morris Agency where his uncle Nat Lefkowitz worked as a general manager Lefkowitz would later rise to become president and then co chairman of the William Morris Agency 3 At the age of 20 he became an agent for the agency and changed his name to Ashley as it sounded dignified and English 1 In 1945 despite the ire of his uncle he started his own talent agency Ted Ashley and Associates 1 In 1950 he was joined by William Morris agent Ira L Steiner and the agency was renamed the Ashley Steiner Agency 4 5 In 1962 he purchased the Famous Artists Agency from Charles K Feldman and renamed the agency Ashley Steiner Famous Artists 6 In 1964 Steiner resigned to form his own film production company and the agency was renamed Ashley Famous 7 In 1967 the agency was sold to Kinney National Company in exchange for 12 750 000 in Kinney stock 1 Ashley made the sale for personal reasons indicating that he did not want to be an agent anymore In an interview Ashley quotes There s something undermining to one s sense of one s self about that whole relationship referencing the agent and client partnership 1 In 1969 Kinney head Steve Ross acquired the cash strapped film company Warner Bros Seven Arts at Ashley s suggestion The purchase was made and Ashley was appointed CEO of the movie studio where he served until 1981 Beginning with the unexpected success of the concert documentary Woodstock 1970 the company started scoring box office hits again reestablishing Warner Bros as a major studio He then became vice chairman of Warner Communications until his retirement in 1988 Personal life EditAshley was married three times In 1945 he married 18 year old Constance Connie Sitomar 1 She later worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York His second wife was Joyce Easton born 1930 a character actress on television shows such as Days of Our Lives they married in 1978 after a lengthy relationship She had occasionally represented Ashley when he was absent from Warner Bros board meetings without herself being employed by Warner Together Easton and Ashley participated in Erhard Seminars Training around 1975 8 By 1990 he was living with his third wife Page Cuddy 9 He died aged 80 in New York of leukemia after a long illness 10 9 He had two biological daughters Fran Curtis Dubin and Diane Ashley and two adopted daughters Kim Balin and Banhi Sinclair 10 9 whom he and his third wife adopted after the death of actress Ina Balin 11 Ashley was good friends with Bruce Lee 12 References Edit a b c d e f g Fleming Karl June 24 1974 Who is Ted Ashley Just the King of Hollywood Baby New York Retrieved March 20 2018 Erens Patricia The Jew in American Cinema ISBN 9780253204936 ISBN 0253204933 Publisher Indiana University Press Publish Date August 1988 page 392 Nat Lefkowitz a former co chairman of the William Morris Agency the theatrical talent agency with which he was associated for 56 years died Sunday in New York University Medical Center where he had undergone heart surgery New York Times September 6 1983 Steiner Joins Ashley Firm Billboard August 12 1950 Ira L Steiner 70 Veteran Talent Agent Los Angeles Times February 17 1985 Retrieved March 20 2018 Rose Frank 1995 The Agency William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business New York Harper Business p 104 263 ISBN 9780887307492 WNDT Aides To Meet On Gould Successor The New York Times May 26 1964 Ira L Steiner announced yesterday he had resigned as executive vice president of AshleySteinerFamous Artists Inc a theatrical talent agency involved in the production of many television shows Mr Steiner said he would form a company to produce films for motion pictures and television King Thomas R 2001 The Operator David Geffen Builds Buys and Sells the New Hollywood Broadway Books pp 259 271 ISBN 9780767907576 a b c Los Angeles Times Ted Ashley 80 Talent Agent Also Ran Warner Bros Studio by Myrna Oliver August 26 2002 a b New York Times Ted Ashley 80 Former Head of Warner Brothers By ALAN FEUER August 26 2002 Actress Ina Balin who as Saigon was falling in 1975 helped spirit 217 Vietnamese orphans out of the city and ended up adopting three of them herself died at the age of 52 of lung disease in New Haven Conn People July 9 1990 Goldman Albert January 1 1983 The Deadliest Man on the Planet The Life and Death of Bruce Lee Penthouse Magazine Retrieved May 5 2020 permanent dead link External links EditDeathwatch Ted Ashley Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ted Ashley amp oldid 1159240385, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
