In Remembrance of J. Michael Bloom

On Thursday, February 21, 2008, my old friend J. Michael Bloom died.

Bloom was my first agent, who I signed with in the Fall of 1980. I worked with him for eleven years, during which time he was one of my greatest friends. Bloom was one of the great, and one of the last, of the old time agents. He had his old New York office near Crouch and Fitzgerald on Madison Avenue, and then moved to Park Avenue South. His LA office was at the Luckman Building at 9200 Sunset, off Doheny. I always remember parking in the alley along that building and racing up to Bloom's office to get a script or some info and racing down to see if I had gotten a ticket. The parking police that worked the Sunset/Doheny area were among the finest in the world back then. Take my word for it.

I have too many memories of Michael to mention here. Beyond his self stylings, like the Kent lll cigarettes and endless flow of Pepsi that he brandishes in his Hirschfeld drawing, Bloom was not only one of the greatest agents, he was a great character and great friend. When I first came into this business, agencies developed talent in a way that is all but unseen today. Bloom, Kimble and Parseghian, Rifkin and David, Harry Abrams, to name a few, brought in young actors to build their careers, knowing that most would then bolt for bigger companies like CAA, ICM and Morris.

Some of the heads of those B-level agencies saw the handwriting, particularly after the 1988 strike. They merged or simply walked away. Bloom stuck it out and, after a time of realignments and difficult business decisions, Bloom had sold most of his company to investors who shelved him and stripped the agency of whatever they could and moved on. I have never seen so precipitous a fall.

Bloom, with his Columbus Avenue apartment, his Outpost Road home, a thriving business, a penchant for Spoleto, the London theatre scene, the ballet and symphony. Bloom was a true artistic junkie. The boy from Lorain, Ohio who craved culture, beautiful clothes, fine decor, elegant restaurants. Then all of it gone, so quickly, and he was essentially out of the business.

He called me Alexi and he taught me a lot about the acting business. Not show business, but acting. He hired agents (Tim, Marilyn, Nevin, Brian, Rob) who always reminded you that working in the theatre was, ultimately, all that mattered. Bloom often spoke of film and TV work as "a means to an end." He taught me that though I might learn to act while in the white hot spot light of movie stardom, it is rare. Better, he said, to have a career, for a lifetime, if one is willing to make the effort required.

Seeing Roberta Maxwell perform at Williamstown with Michael. Seeing Hector Elizondo do View from the Bridge at Stockbridge. Touch of the Poet in London and having dinner with Tim Dalton and Vanessa afterward. Seeing Ian Charleson and Lindsay Duncan do Cat, or Diana Rigg and the late Daniel Massey in Follies. On and on.

The great J. Michael Bloom. Died in Los Angeles, February 21, 2008.

With love,
Alexi

Comments

[pushka2]

As a former Michael Bloom pepsi getter, its nice to see everyone sharing stories about someone I never appreciated enough while I was around him. But after 20 years in the business, I realize I learned most of what I know from Michael during the 3 years I spent making sure his pepsi was ready for to him start his day with. From helping to organize his crazy Halloween parties (and having to find huge guys to carry Michael in on a throne while he was dressed like a Roman king) to sitting in while he heard weekly monologues performed by hopeful actors in what could have been his very own reality competition show (I remember Anthony LaPaglia getting signed after his monolgue), it was an amazing learning experience that you cant get at CAA. Michael was generous (he bought me my first two Brooks Brothers suits), extravagant (you dont wanna know), demanding (my stress related TMJ strangely disappeared after I stopped working for him) and charming (most appreciated while lunching my Mom). And I remember Michael had no traditional family pictures up in his amazing house on Outpost, but he did have pics of his mini schnauzers, and of course, Alec.

[mperman]

I was his Pepsi-getter in New York in the late 1980s, and spent the first nine years of my career working for him. I'd been a lawyer for a few years and it took Michael a year to beat the humanity back into me. He was my first and greatest mentor, and while I've been a big agency person since, I've never had remotely as much fun or learned as much as I did with him. Beneath the well known extravagance was an incredibly fair and ethical man.

He once described coming home from school when he was in grade school in Ohio, getting dressed up, packing a valise and waiting for the limousine with his real family to pick him up and take him to New York. I was once with him in Macy's during Christmas time, where he bought boxes of Godiva chocolates and gave out to other shoppers until we were thrown out of the store. He sang on the phone to studio heads and ad agency buyers, called our moms, paid for theater tickets all his employees, and bravely carried on when one client (and agent) after another left for greener pastures. We'll never see another like him.

[Homa]

Wow! I am not in showbiz (guess art history does not count!) but to read tales of loyalty in Hollywood is always touching. Nice piece, Alec.

[HLebed]

I had the unique opportunity to work as an agent for Michael from 1996-1998,leaving shortly before he was "shelved" by his investors. There was not a day that went by that Michael did not refer in some way to his former client and dear friend, Alec Baldwin. He always told us that despite your great success in the industry, the world had no idea HOW brilliant - that you were without a doubt the funniest man alive. I don't think Michael was in touch with you during that period of time, and you could feel how much he missed you everytime he spoke of you. I truly think he suffered from a broken heart the day you left him as a client. He loved you - and he missed you. It sounds like the two of you were back in contact, and no doubt that made Michael really happy. I imagine him "kvelling", wherever he may be now, as he reads his closing night review, written by no less than his own "Alexi" in the HUFFINGTON POST. P.S. I think Michael would agree with me that his was no "B-Level Agency", but rather a top-notch "Boutique Agency".

[pinterman]

Thank you for this tribute to a man who was, indeed, larger than life. I have been lucky to have had two agents who were legendary. Michael, and the late Jack Fields, both cared for actors in a way that is seldom found anymore. Michael wasted no time...and tasted it all. Bless him.

[baglenmushie]

What a tender and eloquent testimonial, not only to the man, but how he sought to live his life. Would that we all took the time and care in our daily lives, to ensure that our impact on others was of a positve nature, and how generous of you to share with us even a few of the moments. For what ever part he played in fostering your passion for the arts, we owe him a debt, that you are repaying him by encouraging, and passing your knowledge and skills on to others, as part of your life, is a true measure of you both- well done.

[tomligon]

Many many times I have mentioned to other actors that I got the first three commercials Michael sent me on - and invariably their eyes light up and they laugh and say the same thing!

[janvoght]

dear alexi- so so sorry for your loss, with the passing of what sounds like a very dear friend. don't forget he's now watching over you from a different perspective, and if you feel him or see him in your dreams these days, do not doubt for a moment that it is certainly and lovingly him!!!

[bocojo]

A lovely article by Alec Baldwin.

I was a mid-level client mostly in New York of Michael Bloom"s, but he made me feel as if I were a top client. We socialized but once at an agency party at his tasteful Outpost home.

Michael was an enthusiast about the arts. In NYC, I would run into him at an opera or a play and we would talk about the show either there or later when I would run into him at some later time. In fact he would insist on discussing it. Everyone in his office at that time attended theatre uptown and downtown and would take the time to talk about theatre.

It was very important to him to see his client"s shows. When I was out of town for a period of time, he or one of the agents would just call you up "to see how you were doing." He would do the same thing when I first went to LA, knowing the culture shock of being a New Yorker.

He told me the day I first interviewed with him that he had been an actor. "Really!" I said somewhat surprised. He punctuated it immediately with comic timing, "Yes, I was an actor. I was a teeeerrrible actor"...then a slight theatrical PAUSE..."but I know good actors." And when he saw something you would hear about it. He was kind, but straightforward. One day I asked him what he thought of a show he had seen that I was involved in. He said simply while looking over the top of his tinted glasses in as gentle a way as he could, "I haaaaaated it. Haaaaated it." But he also then astutely told me why he haaaaaated it! And he also always could tell you why he looooooved it. He had a good eye. A very good eye. And wanted to know why you loved or hated something, too. An opinion without backup was not good enough.

But the following I think illustrates the true measure of the man. I was in the Voice Over section of the NYC office one day and Michael walked in having literally just returned from his Los Angeles office wearing a slight tan and I teased him about "going LA." We were chatting for awhile when another actor walked in whom I had not known was a client. He had been getting quite successful in theatre and also at the time, starting in television and film. Michael, also surprised he was there, politely excused himself from me, rose up from the little couch on which we were sitting and miffed very cordially inquired, "Excuse me, (actor"s name here) I"m Michael Bloom. What are you doing here?" The actor replied, "I just became a voice over client two days ago." Michael replied, "Well, I am so happy to hear that. Thank you very much." They chatted awhle. Then Michael got a more intimate tone. "May I tell you something? I have a confession to make to you. Years ago, a casting agent (he politely mentioned her name to credit her) took me downtown to see a show that you were in. She told me this actor was wonderful and would do very well and I should consider taking him on. I said to her afterwards, "He was very good, but I just don"t see it for me." She told me I was making a mistake. And I just want to tell you that I am the happiest person in the world when I am proven wrong. I am thrilled for you." I"ll never forget it. Then he introduced me and a couple of actors who were there to his surprising new client, each individually and by our first and last names with the preface "this is my dear friend who is also a client..."

So, Michael, you live on in our stories. My family thanks you, my actor retirement plans thank you, and most recently my SAG health insurance thanks you. Thank you for bringing knowledge, fun, excitement and gentlemanliness to my being an actor. "May flights of angels" and all that stuff...yes, even to a "teeeerrrible actor!" You are one of us.

[goodfreek]

Will there be a memorial for Michael in Los Angeles?

[Agathena]

Beautiful tribute.

Mr. Bloom would indeed be proud of the career that "Alexi" built.

[nutty4tahoe]

Alec: Your post reminds me once again to take time to smell the flowers. Life is short. Things happen. My (late) New Year's resolution is to take the time and make the effort to let the people in my life that matter know that I love them. Now.

Thank you, Alec, for this lovely remembrance and reminder! You were lucky to have crossed paths with Bloom and he was lucky to have crossed paths with you.

[paixa3]

great summarisation and I say kudos to you.

[officefan]

I too was a client of his, I remember his elegant Christmas parties, his love of discussing theater and especially what I'd seen in london.

The class and integrity of my agents there who were eager for you to be an interesting person instead of how much they could make off of you. I heard he had lost the business, I had moved on when a lot of his agents did and with his blessing. I remember an 11pm phone call he made to me, begging me to stay on when he'd lost another agent and I agreed. Those agents that came in got rid of me and many other loyal to him a few months later, without even a personal phone call. I called Michael to complain about my loyalty vs. his, he was appalled and promised to look into it. He sounded sad and embarrassed that someone under his name behaved like that.

It didn't matter as it seemed like he really was sincere and wished the whole agency world was what it had been when he got into it.
I too had many many races into that building and back into the alley or back road to make sure my car was still there, the parking fee was just too high... What a character he was.
God bless, Michael you were one of a kind.

[Dolphin]

Very nice of you, Alec, it is very important to remember your friends and family and also to share memories with other people.

[kellygrrrl]

That was lovely, Alec.

a little reminder to me to thank outloud the mentors in my life.

[SuzieQQ]

Alec,

Thank you for sharing your memories of your friend with us. Very nice.

So, how many tickets DID you get in that parking space? :)