Legendary Hollywood producer and agent Jay Kanter has passed away at the age of 97. Kanter was renowned for representing iconic figures such as Marilyn Monroe and Marlon Brando, the latter of whom became a lifelong friend.
According to a spokesperson for Independent Artist Group, Kanter died peacefully of natural causes at his Beverly Hills home.
Kanter’s career began in the 1940s when he joined MCA as a junior agent after serving in the US Navy.
He quickly made a name for himself by recruiting Brando, leading to a close and enduring relationship. Over the years, Kanter represented numerous stars including Grace Kelly, Ronald Reagan, Warren Beatty, Paul Newman, and Laurence Olivier before transitioning into film production.
In collaboration with his friend Mel Brooks, Kanter worked on notable films such as Young Frankenstein, Silent Movie, and High Anxiety.
His production credits also include major hits like Chariots of Fire, Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma and Louise, and entries in the Star Wars and Police Academy franchises.Kanter is survived by six children and several grandchildren.
He was married three times: first to actress Roberta Haynes, then to Judy Balaban, and finally to Kit Bennett Kanter, with whom he spent 49 years until her death in 2014.
