Queer Places:
230 Corbin Pl, Brooklyn, NY 11235
Mount Judah Cemetery Ridgewood, Queens County, New York, USA

Stanley Alexander Kamen (January 13, 1925 - February 24, 1986) was one of Hollywood's best-known and most successful talent agents. Kamen, who was executive vice president and member of the board of directors of the William Morris Agency, was known for making a leading man out of Steve McQueen. Over the years, he also represented Barbra Streisand, Warren Beatty, Walter Matthau, Joan Collins and Gregory Peck. He died of AIDS without ever having publicly acknowledged his homosexuality.

Stanley Alexander Kamen was born in Brooklyn, NY. He joined the Morris agency as a lawyer, but soon after broke into agentry and persuaded a producer to sign McQueen for a tentative television series called ''Wanted: Dead or Alive.'' Kamen also represented the film director Alan J. Pakula and was instrumental in bringing the novel ''Sophie's Choice'' to the screen under Pakula's direction. Stan Kamen, then the most important agent at William Morris, was out and gay but very private. He said to Howard Rosenman: “No one cares who you fuck as long as you are making money for them … just don’t be too showy.”

During the 1980s, Kamen was diagnosed with AIDS. He steadily lost clients. Stan's health declined until he died while undergoing treatment for lymphoma.

Kamen died on February 24, 1986, at UCLA Medical Center here. He was 60 years old.

References:


Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, 1910-1969 Paperback – October 29, 2002
by William J. Mann

Other references:

Support this project
This website is a passion project researched, developed, and funded entirely by me. If you find the content valuable and would like to help support the ongoing research and hosting costs, any contribution is deeply appreciated.
Thank you for keeping this independent resource alive!

My books on Amazon: Elisa Rolle's books

BACK TO HOME PAGE