John Kimble, who had a long career as a Hollywood talent agent at Writers & Artists, Kimble/Parseghian, DHKPR, Triad Artists and the William Morris Agency, has died. He was 79 years old.
Kimble died Sunday in Dallas, where he retired in 2022 to be near family, former CBS entertainment chair Nina Tusler announced. He said she was his assistant at Triad from 1985-90, and they remained good friends.
Kimble cast Henry Winkler as The Fonz in 1974. Jane Curtin when she was hired in 1975. John Collins joined in 1981. When George Clooney landed in 1994. And when Matthew Perry signed up in ’94, too.
Over the years, Kimble’s clients have also included Julie Andrews, Ann Margaret, Sarah Gilbert, Emilio Estevez, Brooke Shields, Leah Thompson, Cary Elwes, Linda Hamilton, Delta Burke, Victoria Principal, Neil Carter, Rachel Ward and Meredith Baxter.
Kimble was born on August 1, 1945, in Kingsville, Texas, and raised in Uvalde, Texas, where he performed in high school theater productions, was student council president and starred on the football team.
After graduating from the University of Texas El Paso with a degree in theater, he moved to New York to pursue acting and was eventually offered a contract at Screen Gems – but decided to represent actors instead.
He began his agency career working with Joan Scott at Writers & Artists, then formed his own company, John D. Kimble Inc., in July 1977 with employee Tim Engle. established
A year later, Kimble and fellow talent agent Jane Parseghian opened 250 W. Merged their companies to form Kimble/Parseghian in the Fisk Building on 57th St., and their early client list included William Hurt, Pamela Reed, Kevin Bacon, Griffin. Dunn, Martin Short and Andrea Martin.
With his success, Kimble moved to California to open an office in Los Angeles. Soon after, LA-based talent agents Arnold Rifkin and Nicole David (of Rifkin-David) and New York-based Jeffrey Hunter merged with Kimble/Parseghian to form DHKPR.
Kimble will live in LA while Parseghian will live in New York.
In 1984, DHKPR merged with literary agency Adams-Ray-Rosenberg and joined music talent representative Regency Artists to form the trade. As a partner, Kimble honed his skills in nurturing and developing talent and being a tough but fair negotiator.
In 1991, Triad merged with William Morris, and Kimble would serve as head of its TV talent department. He left in 2002 to enter the creative end of the business.
Her love of design and collecting led to the opening of Kimble Walch, an antiques and interior design shop in Beverly Hills. He also joined forces with Meredith Beer Home, a luxury staging and interior design firm.
Survivors include her niece, Kimberly (and her husband, Jeffrey); nephew Steven (and his wife, Kristen); nieces and nephews Ashley and Austin; and great-grandchildren Carson, Riley and Wes.
His elder sister Barbara died in 2017.
“John loved his family and friends,” his family said in a statement. “He had a profound impact on the lives and careers of many people throughout his career. He was larger than life and will leave a lasting legacy on the business he was instrumental in building.”
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Briscoe Animal Rescue Center in Uvalde. PO Box 1650; Uvalde, TX 78802 (phone number 830-591-9229).
Credit : www.hollywoodreporter.com
