Motion picture and television talent agent/manager J.J. Harris died of what is believed to be natural causes on Friday afternoon and was found today in her Beverly Hills home by her staff. She was 62. Always classy and funny but never a pushover, she at one time was among the top women talent agents and sole practitioner managers in Hollywood, representing such notable clients over the course of her decades-long career including Kevin Costner, Charlize Theron, Dakota and Elle Fanning, Kate Bosworth, Drew Barrymore, and Scott Bakula. After starting her career at the old William Morris Agency and jumping to UTA as a partner, she started her own management company more than a decade ago. Harris ran One Talent Management until recently deciding to wind down her business. Until her death, she was spending almost all her time on the career of her longtime confidante and client Costner. It was because of him that her office became worried. “She wasn’t returning my calls or texts. Then Kevin called her,” her assistant and co-manager Sharon Vitro tells me. “It’s one thing for her to ignore me. But she doesn’t ignore Kevin ever.” Her staff went to her home and discovered her body. Through the years, Harris was an outspoken feminist who challenged mano-a-mano the Hollywood men’s club that long ruled actor representation. Bluffing her way into the William Morris accounting department as a secretary, Harris rose through the ranks to become a young but powerful agent best known as fiercely loyal to her clients – even if they weren’t always as loyal to her. (“Every time we’d bring someone up, she’d go, ‘Oh, I used to represent them,’” Vitro recalled.) For instance, Harris had repped the Fanning sisters practically since they were babies, but they followed their other day-to-day One Talent manager out the door at the start of this year. But there was no acrimony when Harris and longtime client Theron parted ways in 2012. (“We had a great run, but Charlize simply doesn’t need a manager right now,” Harris said at the time. ”She wants to focus on her production company. We remain friends.” Harris in the mid-1990s signed Theron after the model-actress spilled a Diet Coke on her in a meeting and went on to win an Oscar. Perhaps Harris’ greatest achievement as an agent/ manager was her close personal and professional relationship with the Oscar-winning Costner. She inherited Costner from WME’s Garry Lucchese, fought off WME/ICM’s Ed Limato to keep him, then lost him during the filming of his Dances With Wolves to CAA’s Mike Ovitz, only to represent him again when Ovitz left the agency biz. Meanwhile Costner’s career over the years toggled frequently between hot and cold: with Harris’ help, he scored key recent roles in TV’s Hatfield & McCoys and motion pictures Man Of Steel and the upcoming Jack Ryan and Three Days To Kill. ”Nothing made her happier than negotiating a deal,” Vitro recalled. I knew Harris and adored her because she was one tough babe – and proud of it.
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RIP- One of the best managers in the business… with the best souls
it’s horrible…and she was only 60 y/o. My guess is she had a heart attack or a stroke because she wrote to me Thursday night saying she was very tired but was so happy I was going with her today to see a condo she wanted to buy in Ventura overlooking the ocean….her get away from it all house.
I emailed her all day yesterday and never heard back. When my call ID showed she was calling me today I was so happy to hear from her. Instead, it was her assistant, Sharon, calling from J.J.’s home, using her home number. I couldn’t believe what I was told. She was so looking forward to me going with her today…even said we would find a wonderful Italian restaurant there. This is all so surreal. Her last email to me was Thursday night at 11:12pm saying she was so happy we were going to see the condo together. She was one of the most kind, caring, compassionate people I’ve ever known and I will miss her dearly. She loved her daughters and the several different pets she cared for. She took her two daughters on a vacation getaway just a couple of weeks ago. She was a wonderful parent, a true professional, a kind, caring, loving soul. One couldn’t ask for a better friend.
Jay
I am so sorry, Jay, for your personal loss. J J Harris was a class act. It scares me to think that passing away suddenly at 62 is considered a “natural cause(s).” So young…
R.I.P. J J
I am so on that same page Lis…
Maybe because we are closer to to JJ’s age that it feels so incredibly unreal.
Enjoy the little moments.
There is nothing worse than the unbelievable shock of learning someone you cherish is gone. My heart goes out to you and all those who knew, loved, and adored her.
It really sounds like she was a great agent and manager. One of those rare blends of personality, sincerity, smarts, and strength. The kind of representation I hope to someday have.
No doubt she will be sorely missed.
Dear Jay, my sister and I have been in constant communication this past year. She mentioned you as a special friend. Thank you for being there for her. For her, and not for what she could do for you. You were a dear friend to her also. God bless. JJ’s sister.
My dear Gloria and family, I am quite shocked at this news,and so very sorry for your loss. I wish circumstances would have been different at this time for our relationships. JJ was a powerful presence and caring for people and animals in a special way. I pray for the arms of Jesus be wrapped around you all. It was an honor to know JJ as much as I was able. Rest in Peace. Fei.
Dear Gloria, I am so very sorry for your loss, the loss of one of the most caring, compassionate and loving people I have ever known. She spoke of you often and in a very loving, caring way. While I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you in person, I look forward to it…just so terrible to meet after this tragic, horrible event. She loved you and her girls very much and would tell me daily of events with you and her daughters. And as so many who posted their condolences here, she was one of a kind, indeed, and had a heart of gold.
Gloria, please let us know about any personal plans, a service, etc. There are so many who want to show how much she meant to them—to say good-bye to your incredibly wonderful, marvelous, beautiful, dear, sweet Judy Joy.
Thank you so much.
Jay
Oh my god. My heart is breaking for her daughters.
Jay, sorry to here about your loss. Sounds like she had a good friend in you and that blesses you both. Be strong. Positives thoughts to her family.
She was a class act. A serious force to be reckoned with. For women in the representation business she was one of the best that oaved the way. Siunds like she was in a good place so may she rest in oeace.
JJ was a tough, no nonsense manager that was very old school. This is so sad. I only wish she was nicer to Graciella and the girls at her company that worked so hard for the Fannings. However, JJ was a true part of our great hollywood history and we all should take a moment to appreciate her. She had great taste and somehow lost sight of the fact that being nice was important. RIP JJ .
I have never written a comment before, but so very sad to hear about J.J. We were close old friends and we recently spoke for a long time about her career and our friendship and how hard it was for women to be taken seriously when we started several years ago before women were even allowed in the mailroom, something we both aspired to in the first years of our careers. J.J. was a decade ahead of me, yet she was never patronizing and was always generous in sharing her power and her guidance. She was so very special, kind, fearless, and understood friendship and loyalty better than most anyone I have ever known. I feel gutted by this news and had so looked forward to our plans to get together when I visited from London next month. Losing J.J. in our industry and in our world is a loss none of us can afford. She was so very rare, and always will be. I wish we had one more trip to Hawaii before it was time to say goodbye. D
Danielle Alexandra, London Film and Teklevision Group
JJ was great and she will be remembered kindly and lovingly.
I am sad but better for knowing her.
RIP JJ
This is very shocking news! Hollywood will mourn the loss of an amazing person.
I only met with JJ once a few years ago – a meeting with her and Charlize Theron about tv development. I was so impressed by JJ … for someone so accomplished, she was incredibly down to earth, funny, sweet and was so taken by the fact that one of the dogs in the office had jumped onto my lap and seemed to like me. She was knowledgable and thoughtful and I can only imagine that for those who were her friends, and of course, her family, must be feeling a terrible, indescribable loss.
Rest in Peace.
Shocking news. I’ve never met anyone more devoted and more hard-working for her clients. Those who had her in their lives were lucky. What a woman! Gone to soon.
This is a huge loss to those who knew her well. In a profession known for its tasteless, self-centered flesh peddlers, J.J. was an original who never conformed to what was expected. She was an original who cared about people amidst a sea of shallow followers
who are better suited to the schmata business of yesterday (only dressed in better clothes). I watched her steel resolve fending off
Limato internally from Costner after Luchessi left WMA, and then doing the dance with CAA when she knew she was doomed to loose him. She was consistently intelligent and articulate and she showed her love for those she really respected with unarguable loyalty. Smart, steely, articulate and, again, a true original in a profession where unique has become a bad word. And boy did she love those children. Horrible to end so short what was a life so well-lived. RIP J.J. HARRIS
This makes me sad. I remember of course like so many of us do when JJ and Elaine Goldsmith were on fire as agents. They were unstoppable…and JJ continued on as an example to every manager in town. Her long- standing and deep relationship with Mr. Costner was an inspiration to us all. Certainly she and Ms. Theron had a great run as well.
She was always a class act and I am sure she will be remembered fondly by all of Hollywood. Hopefully someone who was close to her will organize a nice memorial service. Sympathies and condolences to all concerned…
Down to earth…with it…and most of all, REAL. I came to know JJ as an up and coming assistant at UTA and later to become an exec. She treated me the EXACT same 12 years later…with respect, kindness and always willing to provide advice or insight even within her busy world then and now. She trained many, like Beth Kono, who will always carry the torch of such an accomplished woman and poised individual. My deepest condolences for her family and those who really had the opportunity to know JJ. She will truly be missed as she has left us far too soon…
From reading these comments,she sounds like a wonderful,lovely,& strong woman & so young. All the best to her family & friends. May God bless bless & may she rest in peace.
Had a client of hers on a movie back in the 90s, and JJ came all the way out to the middle of nowhere to visit. I remember being impressed by her. RIP.
A great woman. Met her a few years ago on a film we offered one of her clients. She was a champion of her clients and projects she believed in. Thanks for all your hard work JJ — you will be sorely missed.
When I produced the E! True Hollywood Story on Charlize Theron, I managed to convince JJ to sit for an interview…but it wasn’t easy. She didn’t like being in the spotlight and preferred to keep the focus on her clients. But when she finally let her guard down and started talking, she couldn’t help but reveal a passionate desire for excellence that was exceeded only by her empathy and compassion. My deepest sympathy to her friends and family…she will be missed!
J.J. was truly a good person who really set a wonderful tone for women coming up. She had a very soulful spirit, good heart, charming wit, and fun sense of humor to boot. I personally think she would have prefered to be remembered for her youthful, positive energy…and really wouldn’t want those who knew her to be sad. She was a great gift to the world, especially in the tough one she played in. God rest your soul wonderful and sweet lady. You’ll be remembered with a smile, deep respect, and love in my heart…
So shocking. She’s an incredible person and a true original. J.J. will be greatly missed. Loved her.
I will remember her as generous and kind to me. I cry for her girls and for all of us who had fun with her. Rest in peace.
Thank you Sharon for the beautiful words about JJ and the call today. After 25 years of friendship we were finally working together again. I called Friday to say we’d sold “Timeless” to NBC and it was time for you guys to be producers with me. My heart hurts that you had to leave. RIP sweet lady.
She was a great boss at InterTalent. Very upsetting news.
So very sorry to hear this news. She was a wonderful person, great mom and terrific friend to those close to her. She will be missed. Heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.
Without question, should have read, “JJ was a tough, no nonsense manager who was very old school. This is so sad. JJ was a true part of our great hollywood history and we all should take a moment to appreciate her. She had great taste. RIP JJ .”
Speaking ill of someone who has passed is petty and thoughtless.
“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ? Winston Churchill