- Mourning the loss of American legend Jay Kanter
He was the agent of Hollywood celebrities like Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) or Marlon Brando (1924-2004). Now, American film producer Jay Kanter (1926-2024) has passed away. Several US media outlets, including "The Hollywood Reporter," report this in agreement, citing a spokesperson for the Independent Artist Group. Kanter's son Adam is a partner of IAG.
Kanter died of natural causes on August 6 in his Beverly Hills home. He was 97 years old.
Also successful as a film producer
Jay Ira Kanter was born in December 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, as the son of a Jewish family. The American was primarily known for his work behind the camera. He was involved as a producer in dozens of cinema classics, including "Young Frankenstein" (1974), "Silent Movie" (1976) and "High Anxiety" (1977), "Alien" (1979), "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1981), "Blade Runner" (1982), "Thelma & Louise" (1991), "Star Wars" and "Police Academy".
He also dedicated himself to his work as a manager and agent. In the 1940s, he began his career at the media management group MCA as a junior agent. Among other things, he lured acting legend Marlon Brando away from one of his rivals - the beginning of a long-standing friendship with the multiple Oscar winner.
His famous clients
Kanter also represented big names like Grace Kelly (1929-1982), Ronald Reagan (1911-2004), Warren Beatty (87), Paul Newman (1925-2008), Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) and Marilyn Monroe.
Jay Kanter leaves behind six children and was married three times, including to actresses Roberta Haynes (1929-2019) and Judy Balaban (1932-2023). After his divorce from Balaban in 1961, he was married to Kit Bennett from 1965 until her death in 2014.
The partners at the Independent Artist Group (IAG), where Kanter's son Adam is one, are mourning the loss of their fellow partner Jay Kanter. Throughout his career, Jay Kanter represented numerous famous clients, such as Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe, who were also among his Hollywood celebrities he managed and represented as an agent.
