Warren Cowan
Encyclopedia
Warren Cowan was a prominent American
film industry publicist
. He was born in New York City
and attended Townsend Harris High School
, a school for boys on the educational fast track. A fellow classmate was Variety
columnist Army Archerd
. The son of songwriter Rubey Cowan and Grace Cowan, Warren had one older brother, Stanley.
, Cowan majored in journalism and represented actress Linda Darnell
. At the age of 17, carrying a full load of studies, Cowan was moonlighting as publicist for one of 20th Century Fox
's biggest stars.
), in 1946, following three years' service with the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
. In 1950, he became a partner in the pioneering entertainment industry public relations firm, which then changed its name to Rogers & Cowan. He was named president in 1964.
Rogers & Cowan became the biggest entertainment PR firm in the world. With a list of clients that reads like the entertainment industry's "Who's Who," Cowan represented just about every major star of the late 20th century, from Paul Newman
to Elizabeth Taylor
, from Danny Kaye
to Kirk Douglas
, from Frank Sinatra
to Tony Curtis
, from Shirley MacLaine
to Elton John
. Whenever he was asked to name his favorite client, Cowan's constant answer was always "the next one."
During his career, Cowan represented every kind and size of client, and not just movie stars. He created publicity campaigns for giant automotive concerns, saloon singers, fashion and cosmetic companies, hotels, and resorts, airlines, motion pictures, books, and even nations. The list is endless. Just as endless is the list of individual publicists and PR leaders - and even studio and television network heads- who began their careers working for Warren Cowan.
From the beginning, Cowan was a creative innovator. He started the first celebrity charity-fundraisers, such as the first pro-celebrity sports event. It was a golf tournament, staged in 1950, on behalf of motion picture director Frank Borzage
. He also created and promoted events for such humanitarian organizations as the John Wayne Cancer Institute, the Make-A-Wish Foundation
, and the Society of Singers.
Rogers began Hollywood's Academy Awards
campaigns, starting with Joan Crawford
's performance in 1945's Mildred Pierce
the year before Cowan arrived at the company. The buzz he generated helped win her the Best Actress Oscar. With Cowan's arrival, the company created a formula that has lasted to this day. In 1997, for example, Cowan personally introduced the little-known Italian actor Roberto Benigni
to his already famous American peers, all of them Cowan clients and Academy voters, on behalf of Miramax. Benigni and his picture, Life Is Beautiful
, won three Oscars that year.
In 1988, Rogers & Cowan company was sold to Shandwick Plc., an English conglomorate. "It was the right move to make in some respects, but I found that I was doing too much that was administrative and too little that was creative," Cowan said. In 1994, after a two-year non-competitive period, he launched a new company, Warren Cowan & Associates, where he remained the creative center of his business.
presented Cowan with the United Way's prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Award for his 17 years of outstanding volunteer efforts and called him "the most important United Way volunteer in the entertainment industry."
The ceremony focused new light on the spectrum of Cowan's contribution outside the public relations industry. For years, he has contributed his unique talent to support the activities of such civic and philanthropic organizations as UNICEF, the Scott Newman Foundation, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation, the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis, the Young Musicians Foundation, and the United Way, where he was national committee communications chairman. He succeeded First Lady Nancy Reagan
in the position in 1982.
In 1990, Cowan was honored by the Scott Newman Center at a benefit gala hosted by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
in celebration of the Center's 10th anniversary of promoting drug education programs. Cowan has been associated with the Center since its inception, and serves on the board of directors. Newman, in presenting the award to Cowan, said, "In the arena of public caring, he's several dimensions higher. Others may appear to occupy the limelight, but no one works with greater diligence to better effect. He adds dignity to all of us, through his effort and we become beneficiaries by honoring him."
On March 21, 2002, Cowan was honored as Mentor of the Year by the Volunteers of America at a gala event at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, at the time owned and operated by his good friend -and client- Merv Griffin
.
and Sara Gilbert
and actor Jonathan Gilbert
. Cowan had two daughters from previous marriages: Fox News Channel reporter Claudia Cowan
(his daughter with actress Barbara Rush
), and Bonnie Fleming. He had four grandchildren. Warren Cowan died May 14, 2008 with his family by his side.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film industry publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
. He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and attended Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School
Townsend Harris High School is a public magnet high school for the humanities in the borough of Queens in New York City. Students and alumni often refer to themselves as "Harrisites." Townsend Harris consistently ranks as among the top 100 High Schools in the United States. It currently operates as...
, a school for boys on the educational fast track. A fellow classmate was Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
columnist Army Archerd
Army Archerd
Armand Andre "Army" Archerd was a columnist for Variety for over fifty years before retiring his "Just for Variety" column in September 2005. In November 2005, Archerd began blogging for Variety and was working on a memoir when he died.-Life and career:Archerd was born in The Bronx, New York, and...
. The son of songwriter Rubey Cowan and Grace Cowan, Warren had one older brother, Stanley.
Early career
While attending the University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, Cowan majored in journalism and represented actress Linda Darnell
Linda Darnell
Linda Darnell was an American film actress.Darnell was a model as a child, and progressed to theater and film acting as an adolescent. At the encouragement of her mother, she made her first film in 1939, and appeared in supporting roles in big budget films for 20th Century Fox throughout the 1940s...
. At the age of 17, carrying a full load of studies, Cowan was moonlighting as publicist for one of 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
's biggest stars.
Rogers & Cowan
Cowan has been universally recognized as one of the most innovative and creative publicists in the history of the profession. He joined the firm established by his mentor, Henry C. Rogers (see Wikipedia article Henry and Roz RogersHenry and Roz Rogers
Henry C. Rogers and Roz Rogers were a couple in Hollywood who were important in the public relations business during its golden era.-Henry Rogers career :...
), in 1946, following three years' service with the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In 1950, he became a partner in the pioneering entertainment industry public relations firm, which then changed its name to Rogers & Cowan. He was named president in 1964.
Rogers & Cowan became the biggest entertainment PR firm in the world. With a list of clients that reads like the entertainment industry's "Who's Who," Cowan represented just about every major star of the late 20th century, from Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
to Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
, from Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye
Danny Kaye was a celebrated American actor, singer, dancer, and comedian...
to Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
, from Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
to Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis
Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...
, from Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine is an American film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author, well-known for her beliefs in new age spirituality and reincarnation. She has written a large number of autobiographical works, many dealing with her spiritual beliefs as well as her Hollywood career...
to Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
. Whenever he was asked to name his favorite client, Cowan's constant answer was always "the next one."
During his career, Cowan represented every kind and size of client, and not just movie stars. He created publicity campaigns for giant automotive concerns, saloon singers, fashion and cosmetic companies, hotels, and resorts, airlines, motion pictures, books, and even nations. The list is endless. Just as endless is the list of individual publicists and PR leaders - and even studio and television network heads- who began their careers working for Warren Cowan.
From the beginning, Cowan was a creative innovator. He started the first celebrity charity-fundraisers, such as the first pro-celebrity sports event. It was a golf tournament, staged in 1950, on behalf of motion picture director Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage was an American film director and actor.-Biography:Frank Borzage's father, Luigi Borzaga, was born in Ronzone, in 1859. As a stonemason, he sometimes worked in Switzerland; he met his future wife, Maria Ruegg , where she worked in a silk factory...
. He also created and promoted events for such humanitarian organizations as the John Wayne Cancer Institute, the Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501 non-profit organization founded in the United States that grants wishes to children who have life-threatening medical conditions. The charity now operates in forty-seven countries around the world through thirty-six affiliate offices.The president & CEO of this...
, and the Society of Singers.
Rogers began Hollywood's Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
campaigns, starting with Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford
Joan Crawford , born Lucille Fay LeSueur, was an American actress in film, television and theatre....
's performance in 1945's Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce
Mildred Pierce is a 1941 hardboiled novel by James M. Cain. It was made into an Oscar-winning 1945 film starring Joan Crawford and a 2011 Emmy-winning miniseries starring Kate Winslet.-Plot :...
the year before Cowan arrived at the company. The buzz he generated helped win her the Best Actress Oscar. With Cowan's arrival, the company created a formula that has lasted to this day. In 1997, for example, Cowan personally introduced the little-known Italian actor Roberto Benigni
Roberto Benigni
Roberto Remigio Benigni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian actor, comedian, screenwriter and director of film, theatre and television.- Early years :...
to his already famous American peers, all of them Cowan clients and Academy voters, on behalf of Miramax. Benigni and his picture, Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful
Life Is Beautiful is a 1997 Italian film which tells the story of a Jewish Italian, Guido Orefice , who must employ his fertile imagination to help his family during their internment in a Nazi concentration camp.At the 71st Academy Awards in 1999, Benigni won the Academy Award for Best Actor and...
, won three Oscars that year.
In 1988, Rogers & Cowan company was sold to Shandwick Plc., an English conglomorate. "It was the right move to make in some respects, but I found that I was doing too much that was administrative and too little that was creative," Cowan said. In 1994, after a two-year non-competitive period, he launched a new company, Warren Cowan & Associates, where he remained the creative center of his business.
Philanthropy
During a special ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., President Gerald FordGerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
presented Cowan with the United Way's prestigious Alexis de Tocqueville Award for his 17 years of outstanding volunteer efforts and called him "the most important United Way volunteer in the entertainment industry."
The ceremony focused new light on the spectrum of Cowan's contribution outside the public relations industry. For years, he has contributed his unique talent to support the activities of such civic and philanthropic organizations as UNICEF, the Scott Newman Foundation, The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation, the National Foundation for Ileitis and Colitis, the Young Musicians Foundation, and the United Way, where he was national committee communications chairman. He succeeded First Lady Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
in the position in 1982.
In 1990, Cowan was honored by the Scott Newman Center at a benefit gala hosted by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward
Joanne Woodward
Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward is an American actress, television and theatrical producer, and widow of Paul Newman...
in celebration of the Center's 10th anniversary of promoting drug education programs. Cowan has been associated with the Center since its inception, and serves on the board of directors. Newman, in presenting the award to Cowan, said, "In the arena of public caring, he's several dimensions higher. Others may appear to occupy the limelight, but no one works with greater diligence to better effect. He adds dignity to all of us, through his effort and we become beneficiaries by honoring him."
On March 21, 2002, Cowan was honored as Mentor of the Year by the Volunteers of America at a gala event at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, at the time owned and operated by his good friend -and client- Merv Griffin
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward "Merv" Griffin, Jr. was an American television host, musician, actor, and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in movies and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show on Group W Broadcasting...
.
Personal life
Cowan was married for more than a decade to Barbara Gilbert-Cowan, the mother of actresses Melissa GilbertMelissa Gilbert
Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
and Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert is an American actress best known for her role as Darlene Conner from 1988–1997 in the U.S. sitcom Roseanne.-Early life:Gilbert was born Sara Rebecca Abeles in Santa Monica, California. Her parents are Barbara Crane and Harold Abeles. Her two older siblings, Melissa Gilbert and...
and actor Jonathan Gilbert
Jonathan Gilbert
Jonathan J. Gilbert is an American former film and television actor.-Life and career:Gilbert is best known for his performance as Willie Oleson on the NBC TV series, Little House on the Prairie, from 1974 to 1983...
. Cowan had two daughters from previous marriages: Fox News Channel reporter Claudia Cowan
Claudia Cowan
Claudia Cowan born July 31, 1963, USA, is an American news reporter for the Fox News Channel. She began her career at KTTV-TV in Los Angeles, where she worked her way up from being a messenger to an on-air reporter, then moved to KMST-TV in Monterey where she began as a desk assistant, worked her...
(his daughter with actress Barbara Rush
Barbara Rush
Barbara Rush is an American stage, film, and television actress.-Career:A student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Barbara Rush performed on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse before signing with Paramount Pictures...
), and Bonnie Fleming. He had four grandchildren. Warren Cowan died May 14, 2008 with his family by his side.