Yahoo Lifestyle Martha Luttrell, Veteran Talent Agent for Susan Sarandon and Sam Shepard, Dies at 80
Martha Luttrell, a talent agent who represented a notable array of directors, actors, writers and musicians, died on Dec. 9 in Calabasas, Calif. She was 80.
Luttrell’s death was confirmed to Variety by her friend Holly Goldberg Sloan, with the cause being pancreatic cancer.
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As a one-time representative for directors Martin Campbell, Paul Weiland, Mick Jackson, Tony Bill and Jon Amiel, Luttrell also helped guide the careers of Stephen Rea, Julie Taymor, Dereck Joubert, Beverly Joubert, Susan Sarandon, Judy Davis, Sam Shepard, Waylon Jennings and Don Was.
Luttrell got one of her first jobs answering phones at Capitol Records. In the 1970s, she relocated to New York City and assisted Mike Nichols. After working with him on location for the film “The Day of the Dolphin,” she relocated to Los Angeles and got a job assisting Bill Robinson at The Robinson Agency, where she learned how to be an agent.
Robinson eventually made her a partner at his agency. In 1983, Robinson/Luttrell and Associates sold to ICM, where she worked for 25 years.
Jeff Berg said: “At the time she began her career there were few women in senior positions working in talent agencies. Martha made a real difference advancing opportunities for women, which is quite a legacy.”
Luttrell was also an active member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and served a term as Chairperson of the Academy’s Agent Group.
She is survived by her nephew, Peter Luttrell, and his wife, Dr. Stephanie White. Donations can be made in her honor to the Aspen Community Foundation.
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