Richard Clayton

CLAYTON, Richard Discovered James Dean Richard Clayton, famous agent from Hollywood's Golden Age has died. He was 93, at his home in Los Angeles, from congestive heart failure.
Noted for discovering talent such as Tab Hunter, Jane Fonda, Tuesday Weld, Harrison Ford, Lee Majors, Farrah Fawcett, Jan Michael Vincent, Angie Dickenson, Nick Nolte, Robert Urich, Chad Everett, Richard Chamberlin, Peggy Lipton, Clint Walker among others; perhaps his most famous discovery was James Dean. Born in Montclair, NJ Dick (as he was known to friends) started his career as an actor/model in New York. He was soon placed under contract to Warner Bros. where he appeared in over 30 films including Knute Rockne-All American, High Sierra, Hunch Back of Notre Dame, and A Very Young Lady where he gave Jane Withers her first screen kiss. At the outbreak of World War II Dick enlisted in the Navy and was a recipient of a Purple Heart. Toward the end of Dick's acting career he met James Dean when they both appeared in the Martin and Lewis film Sailor Beware. It was around this time that Clayton went to work at Famous Artist Agency. Because of his ability for discovering new talent, Dick quickly moved up the ranks and became one of the top agents in Hollywood. After decades of agenting Dick became the personal manager for Burt Reynolds whom he managed for 22 years and helped to make the number one box office star in the world. Dick was highly respected throughout his lifetime and had unquestionable integrity. In lieu of flowers Dick's favorite charity was Angel Food Project of Los Angeles.