Top 14 Quotes & Sayings by Lew Wasserman

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American producer Lew Wasserman.

Last updated on April 14, 2025.

Lewis Robert Wasserman was an American talent agent and studio executive, described as "the last of the legendary movie moguls" and "arguably the most powerful and influential Hollywood titan in the four decades after World War II." His career spanned the nine decades from the 1920s to the 2000s; he started working as a cinema usher before dropping out of high school, rose to become the president of MCA and led its takeover of Universal Pictures, during which time Wasserman “brought about changes in virtually every aspect of show business.” In 1995, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton. Several years later, he spoke of his ongoing work at Universal to Variety, saying, "I am under contract here for the rest of my life, and I don't think they would throw me out of my office - my name is on the building."

American - Producer | March 15, 1913 - June 3, 2002

Source: Wikipedia

I think that our primary concern is that the membership in our industry become active. I'm not talking about the candidates being active. I'm talking about the few hundred thousand people who work in the industry around the United States.

Lew Wasserman

You tend to meet on a more regular basis with people in your industry, and reality being what it is, you tend to meet with them at the particular level that you occupy; so that develops a fraternity relationship.

Lew Wasserman

Paul Newman's an old friend of ours out of Cleveland, Ohio. He used to sit around our house. He's the only man I've ever known to drink a case of beer all by himself. That's talent in a way.

Lew Wasserman

I think the executives have matured enough so that they recognize that we have a two-party system. In California, we have more than a two-party system.

Lew Wasserman

President Johnson offered the middle of the road.

Lew Wasserman

I believe Johnson understood that the reason was Vietnam. I also believe that he felt that if there was a way to communicate the real issues in Vietnam, that the reasons would be answered or understood. But there was just no way to communicate.

Lew Wasserman

We had an interesting thing at that first dinner. It was prior to the availability of several new hotels in Los Angeles, and we were more or less committed to the old Ambassador Hotel that has the famous Coconut Grove.

Lew Wasserman

Well, it was a typical meeting with the President. He was very gracious, very outgoing.

Lew Wasserman

Things have changed a great deal since the days of Mr. Mayer. The studios no longer control, as they did in those days, artists or directors or producers, as the case may be.

Lew Wasserman

That room was not available, and the only other room had been booked for a Jewish bar mitzvah. I called the father and told him I needed the room and I would pay him to move the bar mitzvah to an adjoining room which was smaller.

Lew Wasserman

To me, it's the White House and always will be.

Lew Wasserman

I was through as a manager. I did become involved late in the 1968 campaign at the national scene at the last minute. But I was through as a manager, and I've stayed through, incidentally.

Lew Wasserman

To err is human, to forgive is against company policy.

Lew Wasserman

Stay out of the spotlight. It fades your suit.

Lew Wasserman

Top 14 Quotes & Sayings by Lew Wasserman

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