Ari Emanuel

Ariel "Ari" Z. Emanuel is a prominent talent agent and founder of the Endeavor Agency in Beverly Hills, California. He represents Larry David, Michael Moore, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Mark Wahlberg, among others. His stature in the industry has prompted various homages and parodies over the years, including Bob Odenkirk's character "Stevie Grant" on "The Larry Sanders Show" [interview from Not Just the Best of The Larry Sanders Show DVD] and, according to some, the character Ari Gold, played by Jeremy Piven, on the HBO television show "Entourage"cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-aquaman28jul28,1,339510.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-entnews&ctrack=1&cset=true|title="A Green Light for 'Aqua'?"|author=Horn, John|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|accessdate=2006-07-28]

Background

Raised in suburban Wilmette, Illinois, outside Chicago, Emanuel is the brother of U.S. Congressman Rahm Emanuel, and NIH bioethicist Ezekiel J. Emanuel and adopted sister Shoshana. His father, the Jerusalem-born Dr. Benjamin M. Emanuel is a pediatrician, who was active in the pre-independence Israeli undergroundcite news|author=Hendrix, Steve|title=Fighting for the Spoils|publisher=Washington Post|date=2006-10-22|page=D01|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/21/AR2006102101049_pf.html Retrieved on Jan. 9, 2007] on behalf of the "Irgun",cite news
title = The Brothers Emanuel
author = Elisabeth Bumiller
publisher=New York Times
date = 1997-06-15
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E0DE1DF173FF936A25755C0A961958260Retrieved on Feb. 12, 2007] a Zionist paramilitary organization. His mother, Martha Emanuel ("née" Smulevitz), was a civil rights activist, and the one-time owner of a Chicago-area rock and roll club. As a child, Ari was diagnosed as both hyperactive and dyslexic, and his mother spent hours helping him to learn to read. He is a graduate of New Trier West High School and of Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota. He is married to Sarah Addington.His mother often took him to Anti-War Protests.

Professional career

After graduation from college in 1983, Emanuel played professional racquetball, and lived for a time in Paris and New York City. Emanuel then worked at the Hollywood agencies C.A.A., Inter Talent, and I.C.M.cite news
title = The Brothers Emanuel
author = Elisabeth Bumiller
publisher=New York Times
date = 1997-06-15
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E0DE1DF173FF936A25755C0A961958260Retrieved on Feb. 12, 2007] Emanuel and three other agents devised a plan to leave I.C.M. and start a boutique agency of their own. In March 1995, after an assistant was caught removing files after hours, Emanuel was fired by Jeff Berg of I.C.M., and Emanuel went on to co-found Endeavor Agency.

Public advocacy

Ari Emanuel gained widespread media attention in July 2006 when he called on Hollywood to blacklist Mel Gibson because of Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks during his DUI arrest. Emanuel wrote, “People in the entertainment community, whether Jew or gentile, need to demonstrate that they understand how much is at stake in this by professionally shunning Mel Gibson and refusing to work with him, even if it means a sacrifice to their bottom line.” [ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-emanuel/the-bottom-line-on-mel-gi_b_26115.html] “The Bottom Line on Mel Gibson's Anti-Semitic Remarks” by Ari Emanuel, July 30, 2006] At the time Gibson was represented by rival talent agency ICM. Gavin de Becker responded with a two-page open letter to Emanuel in the "Hollywood Reporter". [ [http://defamer.com/hollywood/mel-gibson/gavin-de-becker-gives-ari-emanuel-the-gift-of-rhetorical-whoopass-192261.php] “Gavin de Becker Gives Ari Emanuel the Gift of Rhetorical Whoop-ass” August 4, 2006]

In 2007 Emanuel publicly backed Chris Albrecht after Albrecht was fired from HBO for a domestic violence arrest, preceded by rumors of three earlier incidents of violence against women. [ [http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/ari-emanuel-defends-hkoed-chris-albrecht] Ari Emanuel Defends Fired Chris Albrecht] Emanuel wrote, “If Hollywood is going to give Mel Gibson a second chance, and sports fans are going to cheer on stars like Jason Kidd, Latrell Sprewell, and Stephen Jackson who have made similar mistakes, why not Chris Albrecht?” [ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-emanuel/in-defense-of-chris-albre_b_48140.html] “In Defense of Chris Albrecht” by Ari Emanuel, May 10, 2007] Emanuel later helped Albrecht land his next job at IMG [ [http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/is-aris-endeavor-playing-into-imgs-hands] Is Endeavor Playing Into IMG's Hands?]

Ari Emanuel has hosted fundraisers for Democratic candidates, including a $2,300 per plate fundraiser for Barack Obama at his home. [ [http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/04/sweet_blog_special_hollywood_s.html] Hollywood superagent Ari Emanuel hosts L.A. fund-raiser for Obama Saturday night]

Controversy

An April 2002 lawsuit by agent Sandra Epstein against Endeavor Agency brought accusations by Epstein and other Endeavor employees against Emanuel.cite news
title = Agents Replaying a Hollywood Drama
author = Michael Cieply
publisher=New York Times
date = July 27, 2008
url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/business/media/27agent.html?ex=1374811200&en=9be7bd9ec738949f&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalinkRetrieved on July 27, 2008] In the court filings, Emanuel is alleged to have allowed a friend to operate a pornographic website out of Endeavor’s offices. According to Epstein, Emanuel made racist and anti-gay remarks and prevented her from sending a script about Navy Seals to actor Wesley Snipes, saying, "That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Everyone knows that blacks don’t swim." Emanuel disputed these accusations at the time. Epstein’s claims were settled for $2.25 million.

References

External links

* [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ari-emanuel/ Political blog at] "The Huffington Post"