Archer King passed away from natural causes at a nursing home in New York last Thursday (19Jul12), according to his wife Vivian.
King began his career as an actor in a 1939 Broadway production of Summer Night, but his theatre dreams were put on hold during World War II when he volunteered for service.
He returned to the stage after the war as a producer of plays like Two Blind Mice and Miracle in the Mountains, before making the move to TV as the head of talent at top U.S. network CBS.
In 1957, he launched his own agency, Archer King Limited, where he developed the talents of a young Dean and Howard. King also discovered Sheen and character actor Jack Warden, and represented the likes of Bette Midler and actor/director John Cassavetes.
News of his death was announced on Tuesday (24Jul12) and Apollo 13 director Howard became one of the first of King’s former clients to pay tribute to the late star.
Taking to his Twitter.com account, he writes, “My 1st agent passed RIP Archer King”.
