Hollywood mourns mogul Wasserman

Lew Wasserman was one of Hollywood's big players

Movie mogul Lew Wasserman, who was once the power behind Universal Studios, has died aged 89.

Wasserman was one of the last of the old-style Hollywood power brokers, who built up an entertainment empire while keeping company with politicians and a host of other stars.

He died at home on Monday from complications of a stroke, said a spokeswoman for Vivendi Universal Entertainment, which now owns Universal Studios.

Lew Wasserman was one of the things that made showbusiness classy

Jerry Lewis

Universal was once a division of MCA - Music Corporation of America - the company where he began work in 1936 as a 23-year-old talent agent. He was named company president within 10 years.

His big-name clients included the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

"Lew Wasserman was one of the things that made showbusiness classy," Lewis said from his home in Las Vegas.

As he swiftly consolidated his power at MCA, some saw Wasserman as ruthless, but he insisted he was tough but fair.

Empire

During his more than 50 years with MCA, he and its late founder, Jules Stein, built it into an entertainment empire involved in film, TV, home video, music and consumer products, as well as running its successful back-lot tour of Universal Studios.

When MCA was sold in 1990 to Japanese electronics giant Matsushita for $6.6 billion, Wasserman's share of the deal was put at $350 million, and he was retained as a manager.

When Seagram took over the company five years later, Wasserman retired from management with the honorary title of chairman emeritus. But he remained on the company's board of directors until 1998.

Segram was bought by French conglomerate Vivendi in 2000.

Wasserman was eased out of the company in the 1990s

Universal's stable of TV shows included Miami Vice, Columbo and General Electric Theatre, which featured Ronald Reagan as host.

"Ronnie and I were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Lew Wasserman's death earlier today, one of our closest friends and advisers for over 60 years," former first lady Nancy Reagan said in a statement.

But while he was close to President Reagan, Wasserman was well-known for raising millions for the rival Democratic Party.

Universal's hits at the cinema included The Sting, National Lampoon's Animal House and Jaws.