George Shapiro is an American talent manager and multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winning television producer. He represented Andy Kaufman and is among the most successful managers in show business. He currently represents Jerry Seinfeld.
Shapiro graduated from New York University. He then went to work in the mail room at the William Morris Agency in New York. He advanced within the company and soon became an agent. One of his first assignments was to accompany Elvis Presley during his appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Eventually, he began packaging hit programs such as The Steve Allen Show, That Girl starring Marlo Thomas, and Gomer Pyle starring Jim Nabors. He also packaged a number of specials for Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore and Carol Channing.
Shapiro later left William Morris to become a personal manager and producer along with his partner and friend, Howard West They formed Shapiro/West Productions and executive produced the Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe award winning series, Seinfeld. Shapiro was Andy Kaufman's personal manager for many years, executive producing the performer's special for Showtime entitled, Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall and one for ABC, The Andy Kaufman Show. He also was executive producer with Howard West on the Universal feature film Man on the Moon starring Jim Carrey in the role of Andy Kaufman and had a cameo in the movie as Mr. Besserman.
He was portrayed in the Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon by Danny DeVito. He also played a prominent role in the documentary Comedian.
Famous quotes containing the words george and/or shapiro:
“I can’t hide it any longer. I love you. It’s the old story, boy meets girl—Romeo and Juliet—Minneapolis and St. Paul!”
—Robert Pirosh, U.S. screenwriter, George Seaton, George Oppenheimer, and Sam Wood. Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx)
“But with exquisite breathing you smile, with satisfaction of love,
And I touch you again as you tick in the silence and settle in
sleep.”
—Karl Shapiro (b. 1913)