Dale Garrick, a theatrical and commercial agent in New York and Hollywood for more than a half-century, died Nov. 5 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles shortly after suffering a stroke. He was 88.
Perhaps Garrick's biggest claim to fame as an agent was his discovery of actress Faye Dunaway.
Among his legion of clients were actors Rory Calhoun, Tina Yothers and Clara Peller (famous for the Wendy's "Where's the beef?" commercials in the 1970s); producer Sherry Lansing; writer Jacqueline Susann; and J. Fred Muggs, the chimpanzee sidekick of "Today" host Dave Garroway in the '50s.
Other actors he repped included Frank Gorshin, Marty Ingels, Patty Duke, Sal Mineo, Guy Williams, Rhonda Fleming, Charles Nelson Reilly, Ed Wynn, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, Bonnie Bedelia, Anita Gillette, Tuesday Weld, Dennis Haysbert, Valerie Bertinelli, Troy Donahue, Charlene Tilton, Gary Busey, Leif Garrett, Trini Lopez, Henry Morgan, Keir Dullea and Joseph Campanella.
After serving in the Army during World War II as a radioman and studying acting, the New Jersey native began work in 1956 as a principal theatrical agent in New York, where he had exclusive casting contracts for General Motors, Bristol-Myers, Delco Batteries and Frigidaire. He had his own weekly variety television show where he introduced his actors to the public, and he directed commercials at WPIX-TV in New York.
Garrick came to Hollywood in 1959 and established the Dale Garrick International Talent Agency. His mother, Ingrid, worked in the agency as his accountant and office manager until her death 20 years ago. The agency, in West Hollywood, closed in December.
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