Report: Veteran Hollywood Publicist Julian Myers Dies At 95
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Veteran Hollywood publicist Julian Myers -- whose clients included legends Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe -- has died.
Variety, the show business periodical, says Myers was 95.
Myers also worked with Elvis Presley, Mickey Rooney, John Wayne and Cary Grant. While working for 20th Century Fox from the late 40s through 1961, he worked with every big star who was attached to the studio including Shelley Winters, Shirley Jones, Joan Collins, Shirley MacLaine, Rita Moreno, Joanne Woodward and Betty Grable to name a few.
Long past the normal retirement age, Myers stayed active in Hollywood circles well past his 80s.
He was known for his affable, easy-going way, showy stunts and a flair for the dramatic. Myers was also known for his sense of humor. He would often quip that he would often have to go to the always-late Marilyn Monroe's house and that he was probably the only man who ever wanted her to get out of bed.
In the 1980s, he was an exec vice president of the powerful and respected firm Hansom & Schwam.
Myers also taught hundreds of future publicists for three decades at UCLA and Loyola Marymount.
Journalists and publicists often enjoy an adversarial relationship but Myers was highly thought of and well-liked by journalists.
Magazine and newspaper writer Ray Richmond posted on Facebook: "A classier act never walked the earth than this man. Ageless, guileless, unfailingly kind and gracious, Julian Myers was the kind of guy you simply couldn't not adore."
What many in the press liked about Myers was that he wasn't always working, or working you.
Writes Richmond, "He would frequently call me-- just to check in-- for the last decade even though he had nothing to sell me. Just to see how I was and if there was anything he could do to make my life better."
An avid runner, Myers ran 90 miles when he turned 90 in an 11-day run from San Diego to Los Angeles.
His second wife Patsy, an attorney, died this past October at 83. The couple had been married 43 years. His first marriage lasted 25 years.
Myers is survived by sons Eric (also a film publicist), Jon and daughter Fredricka. He also had 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister and brother, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The Reporter quotes Eric as saying his father died Saturday of congestive heart failure in Marina del Rey.
He also said a memorial service was being planned for early next year.
