latimes.com
Michael S. Rosenfeld dies at 75; was founding partner of Creative
Artists Agency
In 1975, Rosenfeld and four other successful middle-management
executives with the William Morris Agency left to form Creative Artists
Agency, which would become a talent agency powerhouse.
By Valerie J. Nelson
5:00 PM PDT, March 29, 2010
Michael S. Rosenfeld, a talent agent and producer who was one of the
founding partners of Creative Artists Agency, has died. He was 75.
Rosenfeld died Thursday of respiratory failure at Santa Monica UCLA
Medical Center after a long illness, the agency announced.
"He enjoyed an exemplary career as a talent agent," the agency said in a
statement. "He played an important role in the growth and success of
CAA, and prided himself on starting the agency's literary department."
In 1975, Rosenfeld and four other successful middle-management
executives with the William Morris Agency left to form Creative Artists
Agency, which would become a talent agency powerhouse.
Rosenfeld and his partners -- Michael Ovitz, Bill Haber, Ron Meyer and
Rowland Perkins -- pooled their resources and set up shop on Wilshire
Boulevard.
They couldn't afford a receptionist, so each of their wives filled in
one day a week. At first, they conducted business on card tables and sat
in folding chairs.
"It looked like we were booking, all right, but not actors," Rosenfeld
told The Times in 1979. "It looked like we were making book."
As a vice president at ABC, Michael Eisner had worked closely with
Rosenfeld at William Morris. After CAA was formed, Eisner "put his
programming execs in a room with Rosenfeld and his partners and refused
to let them leave until each one had come up with a project the new
agency could handle," according to the 1995 book "The Agency."
Rosenfeld brought together the creative elements for the 1980 movie
"Fame" and sold the landmark 1976 miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man" to
ABC.
Among his clients were William Link and Richard Levinson, creators of
TV's "Murder, She Wrote," and actresses Marlo Thomas, Joanne Woodward,
Ann-Margret, Eva Marie Saint and Dyan Cannon.
By the early 1980s, Rosenfeld had left CAA to produce such projects as
the 1984 TV miniseries "Fatal Vision" and the 1986 skateboard film
"Thrashin'."
Soon after completing the 1989 TV movie "The Hillside Stranglers," he
moved to Kenwood, Calif., and co-owned Dragonfly Aviation, a flying
school at the Santa Rosa Airport.
Michael Stuart Rosenfeld was born June 28, 1934, to Maxwell S.
Rosenfeld, who became a Pennsylvania state senator, and Edith Rosenfeld.
After earning his bachelor's degree from Penn State University,
Rosenfeld started in the mailroom at William Morris in 1957 in New York
City. Two years later, he moved to Los Angeles.
He represented Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, securing their roles in
the 1961 film "West Side Story," for which they both won Academy Awards.
According to CAA, he also persuaded Disney to cast Dick Van Dyke in the
1964 film "Mary Poppins."
Rosenfeld was divorced.
His son, Michael Rosenfeld, and his son's wife, Sonya, are television
agents at CAA.
Rosenfeld is also survived by three other children, Maxwell, Jackson and
Molly; and three grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. April 8 at Pierce Brothers Westwood
Village Memorial Park, 1218 Glendon Ave.
Arrangements under the direction of Pierce BrothersWestwood Village Mortuary, Los Angeles, CA.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
March 22, 2019
Friend
Suzan Green
How interesting I should receive this the day after I reminisced with a friend that whenever confronted with a whining, Michael would break into a Boadway tune. There was nothing to do but join in! Was lucky in many ways to have known him.
February 22, 2013
Suzan
January 8, 2013
Suzan Green
It was deeply shocking and so very sad to learn of "Rosenfeld the Fox's" passing and of him having suffered a long illness. He meant so much to us.
Thank you for sweet and funny memories.Fly in Peace, Mikey, wherever you are.
May 16, 2010
max, mike, molly &jackson,
i have great memories of mike. our freshman year he was already a celebrity at penn state university. mike had his own band and played at many of the fraternity parties. he later wrote the music for the university shows which were major hits, especially his song "tonight i won't forget" mike was a close friend & fraternity brother for four marvelous years. he rmained both barbara & my friend after graduation & we spent many happy times together untill his death. we will miss him and hope your memories of him will help ease your grief.
barbara & lee maimon
April 21, 2010
Molly Rosenfeld
Dad- I love you so much and miss you more than words can express. I know we will meet again.
April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010
April 17, 2010
April 13, 2010
Joanne
Mike
You were the best son-in-law ever. You gave me two wonderful grandchildren, Molly and Jackson. You were always thoughtful and generous. I will miss you a lot.....Joanne Reeves..Montrose, CA.
April 11, 2010
I only knew of Mr. Rosenfeld through his caregiver at Westwood Horizons Retirement homoe. He was greatly admired by him and he mourns his passing. I only wish I had had the pleasure of meeting this lovely and vibrant man.
Penelope Gamble (I perform at Westwood Horizons)
April 10, 2010
Chaze Nze
Michael, you were like a loving Father to me having taken care of you as your Personal Care Assistant/Caregiver for almost 2years. Saying goodbye a day before you passed on, was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life. Your word to me "Don't let the bed bug bite you" each time I put you in bed at the end of my shift was an expression of how compassionate you were. Michael, I missed you already though I know that you are in a better and peaceful place now. May your Soul Rest in Perfect Peace!
April 9, 2010
Robb Rothman
I was Mike's assistant in 1979/80 and he was a warm and kind man in an industry that doesn't always prize those qualities. Mike proved that one
could be successful and principled.
April 8, 2010
sandy Lieberson
Michael .....a complex, generous, loving friend. a gifted song writer, pianist, father and pilot....my first flight with him was to Catalina Island for a buffalo burger....he loved his children and family....i miss him...
sandy lieberson
April 8, 2010
Mark F Zeller
To the family-
Mike's work on 'West Side Story' helped make it the masterpiece it became. As a member of the family of the late Jerome Robbins and as a part owner of 'West Side Story', I wish to express my condolences and celebrate a life that touched so many others.
April 5, 2010
EDDIE KEYES
Mike- I like many folks opened the paper today and read some sad news. I know that from our time together when Willie played football with Emerson that your Dad was not in the best of health or spirits. I know he is at peace now and I hope that you took the opportunity to say what had to be said before he passed on.
As I have told you many times, Mike was always kind and amazingly supportive of me as his introductions led me from a small agency to InterTalent (remember them?).
I will always remember him as the kind man who sat next to me at the piano in Kenwood as we made up lyrics to thankfully never published songs.
My prayers are with you and your family.
EDDIE KEYES
April 2, 2010
James Long
I was sad to hear of Mike's passing. I hadn't seen him in a few years. When Mike would bring his Cessna P-210 into Redwood Aviation for maintenance in the late 1980's those of us working in the shop enjoyed listening to his stories of different actors he dealt with. He was a very nice person. Blue Skies Mike!
Showing 1 - 18 of 18 results
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