Richard Leibner, an influential talent agent known for being one of the most prominent voices in cable news, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 85 years old.
Throughout his 58-year career, Mr. Leibner has earned a reputation as a pioneer in the media industry, representing major media personalities such as Mike Wallace, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer, and Norah O’Donnell.
Formerly an accountant, he founded NS Bienstock, a media agency responsible for the career development of several prominent television journalists. Known as a tough negotiator, he took advantage of the opportunities he saw in an ever-changing media landscape and maintained his leadership role for network TV stars until his retirement in 2022.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 13: Richard Leibner attends The Hollywood Reporter’s 35 Most Influential People in Media 2017 on April 13, 2017 in New York City. ((Photo credit: Sylvain Gaboury/Patrick McMullan, Getty Images))
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Mr. Leibner died surrounded by his family at his home in Manhattan, according to an internal memo obtained by Jay Schurs, vice chairman of UTA, the talent agency that acquired Mr. Leibner’s company in 2014. LA Times.
“Richard will be remembered as an agent who transformed the news industry,” Schurs said in the memo. “To say that Richard was iconic and larger than life is truly an understatement.”
Former CBS News president Andrew Hayward once said of Leibner, “Richard has expanded the definition of talent in the television news industry and greatly increased its value,” the Times reported.
“Not just for the big stars, but also for other people who may not be top-tier,” he added. “There was this phenomenon of associate producers walking around saying, without any irony, ‘I have one year left on my contract.’ This was new.”
NS Bianstock Co-Presidents Richard Leibner and Carol Cooper attend Variety’s New York: Entertainment Elite held at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City on September 29, 2014. ((Photo credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images))
Mr. Leibner was known for getting his clients “a fairer share of the business’s profits,” the newspaper wrote.
This prominent agent was born in Brooklyn and graduated from the University of Rochester. In a 2022 interview with the Times, Leibner reflected on his success, saying, “All the big agencies were focused on film and TV and making a lot of money on package fees. We were specialists, so that’s how we got our foothold. I was able to build this and go further than anyone else.” . ”
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Mr. Leibner’s wife, Carol Cooper, a former TV commercial producer and fellow agent, was reportedly the driving force behind his business. She joined Bianstock in 1976 and helped establish the careers of prominent journalists. She continues to work at UTA, according to the Times. The two were inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2018.
Leibner is also survived by two sons, Adam and Jonathan, and four grandchildren.
