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Eugene Landy
Encyclopedia
Eugene Ellsworth Landy, Ph.D.
(November 26, 1934 – March 22, 2006) was a controversial American psychologist
and therapist known for his unconventional treatment and eventual exploitation of composer/musician Brian Wilson
. Landy, long before receiving his doctorate in psychology from the University of Oklahoma
, was a "race records" distributor, promoting records of African American artists to disc jockeys around the United States
. He was a successful drug counsellor at Harbor Hospital in Los Angeles, California
after becoming a psychologist and a popular part-time instructor in the late 1960s at California State University, Northridge
(San Fernando Valley State College). He was well known for using Gestalt Therapy
as his treatment technique.
and improving his physical appearance and overall health. In the process, however, he was accused of brainwashing, drugging and isolating his patient, then benefiting from an improper business relationship with him. These charges ultimately cost Landy his professional license and reputation.
Landy was initially hired to treat Brian Wilson by Wilson's wife, Marilyn, in 1975. He was fired by Wilson's band, The Beach Boys
, the following year after doubling his fee, but rehired in 1983. The band reportedly performed a concert per month to meet Landy's increased demand and devoted some publishing rights to his fee.
While also acting, at least initially, as his therapist, Landy managed Wilson's career between 1983 and 1991, in violation of the ethics code of his profession. He also allegedly co-wrote and produced Wilson's eponymous solo album
. Wilson's family contested Landy's control of Wilson, pursuing ultimately successful legal action in late 1991. Landy's depiction in glowing terms in the second half of Wilson's autobiography Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story, published that year, would, were it a legitimate autobiography, indicate Wilson's approval of his methods; in an unrelated court case, however, Wilson testified that he had never even read the final draft of the manuscript, much less written any of it.
Wilson, who is now being treated with conventional psychiatric intervention, refers to that period of his life as "the Landy years". While appearing on Larry King Live
in 2004, he acknowledged that Landy took what he now claims is questionable control. Landy, who was billing Wilson $35,000 a month as a base fee with thousands more in personal expenses, was also the alleged beneficiary of a revised will said to have been written for Wilson in the early 1990s. As a result of the Beach Boys' and Wilson family's struggles for control, action was taken against Dr. Landy's professional practice. In the late 1980s, the California Board of Medical Quality charged Landy with ethical and license code violations stemming from the improper prescription of drugs and various improper personal and professional relationships with patients. Landy voluntarily agreed to surrender his license to practice psychology in California. He then created a highly lucrative position for himself as Wilson's business partner in a company called "Brains and Genius" (stemming from their names Brian and Gene). Landy became Wilson's writing partner, co-producer, financial partner and beneficiary in all of Wilson's professional activities. The exploitation finally ended in 1992 when Landy was barred by court order from contacting Wilson. Nevertheless, in June 2008, when the UK publication, The Telegraph, asked Wilson what his reaction to Landy's death had been, Wilson responded: "I was devastated."
in the early stage of the guitarist's career. He also authored a 1971 book on hippie jargon called The Underground Dictionary. Landy's other celebrity clients reportedly included actor Richard Harris; musician Alice Cooper
; actor Rod Steiger
; actress Maureen McCormick
; and actor Gig Young
, who died in an apparent murder-suicide along with his wife in 1978. In an interview with journalist David Felton, Landy claimed that he had treated others, but that he was in no position to explain his background.
and Hawaii
up until his death. He died, aged 71, on March 22, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii
, of respiratory system
complications from lung cancer
.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(November 26, 1934 – March 22, 2006) was a controversial American psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and therapist known for his unconventional treatment and eventual exploitation of composer/musician Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
. Landy, long before receiving his doctorate in psychology from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, was a "race records" distributor, promoting records of African American artists to disc jockeys around the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was a successful drug counsellor at Harbor Hospital in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
after becoming a psychologist and a popular part-time instructor in the late 1960s at California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Northridge is a public university in Northridge, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles, California, United States....
(San Fernando Valley State College). He was well known for using Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy
Gestalt therapy is an existential/experiential form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility, and that focuses upon the individual's experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts of a person's life, and the self-regulating...
as his treatment technique.
Relationship with Brian Wilson
Using unorthodox 24-hour therapy, involving control of "every aspect of [his] physical, personal, social and sexual environments", Landy was successful in limiting Wilson's drug abuseDrug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and improving his physical appearance and overall health. In the process, however, he was accused of brainwashing, drugging and isolating his patient, then benefiting from an improper business relationship with him. These charges ultimately cost Landy his professional license and reputation.
Landy was initially hired to treat Brian Wilson by Wilson's wife, Marilyn, in 1975. He was fired by Wilson's band, The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, the following year after doubling his fee, but rehired in 1983. The band reportedly performed a concert per month to meet Landy's increased demand and devoted some publishing rights to his fee.
While also acting, at least initially, as his therapist, Landy managed Wilson's career between 1983 and 1991, in violation of the ethics code of his profession. He also allegedly co-wrote and produced Wilson's eponymous solo album
Brian Wilson (album)
Brian Wilson is the eponymous first solo album by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, released in July 1988 on Sire Records. The album was reissued on Rhino Records with an extensive selection of bonus tracks in 2000.-Background:...
. Wilson's family contested Landy's control of Wilson, pursuing ultimately successful legal action in late 1991. Landy's depiction in glowing terms in the second half of Wilson's autobiography Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story, published that year, would, were it a legitimate autobiography, indicate Wilson's approval of his methods; in an unrelated court case, however, Wilson testified that he had never even read the final draft of the manuscript, much less written any of it.
Wilson, who is now being treated with conventional psychiatric intervention, refers to that period of his life as "the Landy years". While appearing on Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
in 2004, he acknowledged that Landy took what he now claims is questionable control. Landy, who was billing Wilson $35,000 a month as a base fee with thousands more in personal expenses, was also the alleged beneficiary of a revised will said to have been written for Wilson in the early 1990s. As a result of the Beach Boys' and Wilson family's struggles for control, action was taken against Dr. Landy's professional practice. In the late 1980s, the California Board of Medical Quality charged Landy with ethical and license code violations stemming from the improper prescription of drugs and various improper personal and professional relationships with patients. Landy voluntarily agreed to surrender his license to practice psychology in California. He then created a highly lucrative position for himself as Wilson's business partner in a company called "Brains and Genius" (stemming from their names Brian and Gene). Landy became Wilson's writing partner, co-producer, financial partner and beneficiary in all of Wilson's professional activities. The exploitation finally ended in 1992 when Landy was barred by court order from contacting Wilson. Nevertheless, in June 2008, when the UK publication, The Telegraph, asked Wilson what his reaction to Landy's death had been, Wilson responded: "I was devastated."
Career
Before his association with Wilson, Landy briefly managed George BensonGeorge Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
in the early stage of the guitarist's career. He also authored a 1971 book on hippie jargon called The Underground Dictionary. Landy's other celebrity clients reportedly included actor Richard Harris; musician Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
; actor Rod Steiger
Rod Steiger
Rodney Stephen "Rod" Steiger was an Academy Award-winning American actor known for his performances in such films as On the Waterfront, The Big Knife, Oklahoma!, The Harder They Fall, Across the Bridge, The Pawnbroker, Doctor Zhivago, In the Heat of the Night, and Waterloo as well as the...
; actress Maureen McCormick
Maureen McCormick
Maureen Denise McCormick is an American actress, celebrity and recording artist. She is most widely known as a child actress who played Marcia Brady in the television series The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974.- Early life and career :...
; and actor Gig Young
Gig Young
Gig Young was an American film, stage, and television actor. Known mainly for second leads and supporting roles, Young won an Academy Award for his performance as a dance-marathon emcee in the 1969 film, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.-Early life and career:Born Byron Elsworth Barr in St...
, who died in an apparent murder-suicide along with his wife in 1978. In an interview with journalist David Felton, Landy claimed that he had treated others, but that he was in no position to explain his background.
Death
Eugene Landy continued a successful medical psychotherapeutic practice with licensure in New MexicoNew Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
up until his death. He died, aged 71, on March 22, 2006 in Honolulu, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, of respiratory system
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
complications from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.