Driving Marilyn

September 30, 2024
Former entertainment industry publicist Brokaw (coauthor of Life Is Not a Stage) delivers an adoring if inconsequential biography of his father, Norman Brokaw (1927–2016), who served as CEO of the William Morris Agency from 1989 to 1997. At age 16, Norman got his start in Hollywood working for his uncle Johnny Hyde, a talent agent who was at that point focused on kickstarting the career of his “protégé and paramour” Marilyn Monroe. Brokaw traces the rest of Norman’s career through anecdotes about the stars he represented. For instance, Brokaw recounts how after Hyde’s death at age 55, Norman took over representing Monroe and introduced her to future husband Joe DiMaggio after they ran into the baseball legend at a restaurant. Elsewhere, Brokaw describes how Norman successfully convinced outgoing president Gerald Ford to become a client by promising lucrative book deals, television appearances, and speaking engagements, and how Norman flew across the country on a moment’s notice to comfort Donna Summer after her label made a move that threatened the success of the first single she composed without a cowriter. The stories about Norman’s clients intermittently amuse, but the lack of a unifying narrative through line can make this feel like a jumble. Still, it’s a diverting look inside the Hollywood machine. Photos.

October 1, 2024

Brokaw (Jane's Dust: A Tale of Talc, Deceit, and Death) thoughtfully examines the life of his father, Norman, whose rise from a mail room clerk to the CEO and chairman of the William Morris Agency was paved with celebrity relationships and forward-thinking decisions that drove his influence over Hollywood in its heyday. Tasked with developing the newfangled invention known as television, young Norman quickly recognized the need for known performers. He secured the talents of stars such as Loretta Young and Barbara Stanwyck. He soon became an agent for a bevy of legends, from Marilyn Monroe to Clint Eastwood. His brilliance was in his unorthodox and diversified client list, including Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Mark Spitz and soon-to-be-former-president Gerald Ford. His generosity and care for his clients extended to nonjudgmental crisis management as he also avoided the traps of his business. In this book, the author is forthright about his family life, including his mother's bipolar, and his father's frequent absence and emotional distance. His yearning to know his father better can be felt on every page. VERDICT A fascinating look at an authentic Hollywood influencer, told with affection, honesty, and unprecedented access to the memories of numerous legends--Lisa Henry

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