Larry A. Thompson | |
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Larry A. Thompson in 2012
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Born |
Larry A. Thompson August 1, 1944 Clarksdale, Mississippi, United States |
Residence | Beverly Hills, California |
Occupation | Film producer, talent manager |
Years active | 1970–present |
Spouse(s) | Kelly Thompson |
Website | http://www.larrythompsonorg.com/ |
Larry A. Thompson (born August 1, 1944) is a Hollywood film producer, personal manager, book packager, lawyer, author, and motivational speaker.
Thompson was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, to Angelo and Anne (maiden name, Tuminello) Thompson. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1968.
Thompson started his entertainment-industry career as in-house counsel for Capitol Records. He was the youngest lawyer working for the label and negotiated separate contracts for each of the Beatles when the group broke up. By the 1970s, he was a founding partner in the entertainment law firm of Thompson, Shankman, Bond and Moss. For five years, he packaged movie and television projects and represented the careers of many prominent actors and performers. He also orchestrated the $300-million-dollar merger of Harrah's and Holiday Inn.
When the law partnership was dissolved, Thompson created the Larry A. Thompson Organization, a company devoted to film production and the personal management of talent.
Thompson and fellow lawyers Harry E. Sloan and Larry Kuppin subsequently purchased New World Pictures from Roger Corman for $16.5 million and immediately took the company public. He sold his New World equity position in 1983 and refocused his attention to independent film production and talent management. He received the Vision Award in 1993.
Thompson and his company have managed over 200 artists including Drew Barrymore, Jason Bateman, Justine Bateman, Linda Blair, Robert Blake, Bruce Boxleitner, Delta Burke, Cindy Crawford, William Devane, Donna Dixon, Shannen Doherty, Linda Evans, Steve Guttenberg, Merle Haggard, Scott Hamilton, Mariska Hargitay, Iman, Sally Kellerman, Donna Mills, Tatum O'Neal, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, William Shatner, Sonny & Cher, Tori Spelling, Alan Thicke, Cicely Tyson, and Barry White.