Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw

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.