Warren Cowan, a legendary Hollywood publicist who was known as an innovative pioneer of publicity for the biggest names in show business, has died of cancer in Los Angeles. He was 87.
A New York native who began moonlighting as a Hollywood publicist while attending UCLA in the early 1940s, Cowan joined Henry Rogers' publicity company in 1945 after serving in the Army Air Forces. In 1950, the two publicists became partners in Rogers & Cowan, which became the largest entertainment PR company in the world. Cowan launched his own company in 1994.
In a more than 60-year career that continued until his death, Cowan represented a glittery array of stars, including Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra, Tony Curtis, Lucille Ball, Judy Garland, Steve McQueen, Natalie Wood, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, the Doors, John Wayne, Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood.
Kirk Douglas, who first met Cowan in the late '40s and later tapped him to be best man at his second wedding, said in a statement: "Warren was loved by everybody because he cared for people."
He was handling publicity for director Frank Borzage in 1950 when he came up with the idea of a celebrity sports tournament for charity to get the two-time Oscar winner's name in the news.
LOS ANGELES TIMES
