Charles H Joffe, 1929 - 2008.

Charles H Joffe, a legendary manager of comic talent who helped guide the careers of Dick Cavett, Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen and co-produced nearly all of Allen's films, died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long illness. He was 78.

Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times.

Updated through 7/17.

Mr Joffe was the brash, wise-cracking, cigar-chewing contract bargainer in the talent agency Rollins Joffe, which booked Lenny Bruce's first act in New York in the 1950s. The agency later mentored, among others, Dick Cavett, Robert Klein, Tom Poston, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Martin Short and Martin Mull. The firm, founded by Jack Rollins, later became Rollins Joffe Morra & Brezner.

Dennis Hevesi, New York Times.

They started in Old Showbiz, but they really are of the Middle Era, between the end of the Studio System Era and the Rise & Fall of Mike Ovitz. They went from Brooklyn to Hollywood and for a while, they were on the top of the mountain. Who could ask for more?"

David Poland.

Update, 7/17: Ronald Bergan opens his obit in the Guardian by noting how much Woody Allen owes Joffe: "Most significant of all, Joffe was able to guarantee Allen complete artistic control over his films, including casting and script approval, final cut, advertising and promotion - a very rare deal indeed in Hollywood."

Posted by dwhudson at July 15, 2008 8:46 AM