Ted Ashley
Encyclopedia
Ted Ashley was the chairman of the Warner Bros.
film studio from 1969 to 1980.
He was born in Brooklyn
as Theodore Assofsky. At the age of 20 he started out as a William Morris
agent (He changed his name at that time). In 1951 he started his own talent agency, Ashley-Famous
, which was acquired by Kinney National Company
in 1967.
In 1969, Ashley suggested Kinney head Steve Ross
to acquire the cash-stripped film company Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
. Ted Ashley became CEO of the movie studio until 1981. He then became vice chairman of Warner Communications
until his retirement in 1988.
Ted Ashley died aged 80 in New York of leukemia
, after a long illness.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
film studio from 1969 to 1980.
He was born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
as Theodore Assofsky. At the age of 20 he started out as a William Morris
William Morris Agency
WME is the largest talent agency in the world, with offices in Beverly Hills, New York City, Nashville, London, and Miami. WME represents elite artists from all facets of the entertainment industry, including motion pictures, television, music, theatre, publishing, and physical production...
agent (He changed his name at that time). In 1951 he started his own talent agency, Ashley-Famous
Ashley-Famous
Ashley-Famous was a talent agency started in 1951 by talent agent Ted Ashley. The agency had a successful 16 year run under that name and owner; it was responsible for many hit television shows and had several famous clients...
, which was acquired by Kinney National Company
Kinney National Company
Kinney National Services, Inc. was formed in 1966 when the Kinney Parking Company and the National Cleaning Company merged. The new company was headed by Steve Ross....
in 1967.
In 1969, Ashley suggested Kinney head Steve Ross
Steve Ross (Time-Warner CEO)
Steve Jay Ross was CEO of Time Warner Inc., Warner Communications, and Kinney National Services, Inc.-Early life and career:...
to acquire the cash-stripped film company Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Warner Bros.-Seven Arts was formed in 1967 and became defunct in 1970, when Seven Arts Productions acquired Jack Warner's controlling interest in Warner Bros. for $32 million and merged with it. The deal also included Warner Bros. Records, Reprise Records and the B&W Looney Tunes library...
. Ted Ashley became CEO of the movie studio until 1981. He then became vice chairman of Warner Communications
Warner Communications
Warner Communications or Warner Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 when Kinney National Company spun off its non-entertainment assets, due to a financial scandal over its parking operations and changed its name....
until his retirement in 1988.
Ted Ashley died aged 80 in New York of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, after a long illness.