Eric Weissman, Veteran Entertainment Lawyer Who Represented Gene Wilder and Elizabeth Taylor, Dies at 94

Eric Weissman, the noted Hollywood entertainment lawyer who represented many actors including Gene Wilder, Elizabeth Taylor and Rita Hayworth, died Dec. 15. He was 94.

Weissman’s death was only just now announced by his granddaughter, Sara McCrea.

Over his five decades of experience practicing entertainment law, Weissman also represented directors like Robert Altman, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert Aldrich, Paul Mazursky and Mark Rydell. Weissman spent years as a partner at Kaplan, Livingston, Goodwin, Berkowitz, Selvin and the Beverly Hills firm Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman Grodin, along with a stint at Warner Bros as the Head of Worldwide Business Affairs.

“Eric was a wonderful attorney, said “Roger Rabbit” creator Gary K. Wolf, a client and friend. “He was also a consummate gentleman, a brilliant raconteur, and a very, very good friend.”

Later in life, Weissman founded his own practice. He taught at schools including the University of Southern California and Sherwood Oaks Experimental College and also lectured at Harvard University, Yale University and the American Film Institute.

In 2010, Weissman was selected as Entertainment Lawyer of the Year by the Beverly Hills Bar Association and was awarded the Distinguished Entertainment Leadership Award by the Anti-Defamation League.

His daughter Jessica remembered him for his wit, saying “My dad was full of fun. He loved a good dinner party, a good joke, a good tennis game, and especially his Hollywood community. I will miss his warmth and wit.”

“My favorite memories of my father were the hours we spent riding waves together at the beach. I’ll miss his quick wit and his love of life,” commented his daughter Tiffany.

Weismann is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Weissman, daughters Jessica McCrea and Tiffany Wind and granddaughters Sara McCrea and Emma Sabine Wind.