Dick Guttman, Longtime Hollywood Publicist, Dies at 93

Dick Guttman, a legendary Hollywood publicist who represented the likes of Barbra Streisand, Clint Eastwood, Audrey Hepburn, and Paul Newman, has passed away at the age of 93. Born in St. Louis and raised in Los Angeles, Guttman's career began at an early age, waiting for radio drama sound stages and collecting scripts and autographs. He later pursued journalism in high school, writing for the Los Angeles Examiner.

After graduating from UCLA, Guttman moved to Europe to work as a unit publicist on films such as "Paris Holiday" and "The Key." During this time, he met his wife, Gisela, and returned to Los Angeles to join Rogers & Cowan for over a decade. In 1971, he partnered with Jerry Pam to form Guttman & Pam, eventually becoming one of the most prominent Hollywood publicity agencies known for personalized and results-oriented promotion.

Guttman's career spanned more than 35 years, with Guttman & Pam and his own agencies, Guttman Associates, representing numerous films, TV shows, and individuals. He also served as a screenwriter, writing seven films, including "Back Door to Hell" (1963). Guttman published his autobiography, "Starflacker," in 2015, sharing stories and insights from his decades-long career.

In addition to his public relations work, Guttman was a survivor of wildfire in Malibu in 1993 and moved to Los Altos in 2022 to be closer to family. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, four grandchildren, and a great granddaughter. Guttman Associates continues to represent Hollywood talent with Susan Madore and Rona Menashe leading the agency.