George Shapiro, longtime producer and director of Jerry Seinfeld, Karl Reiner, Andy Kaufman and other comedian stars, died on May 26 at his Beverly Hills home. He was 91 years old.
Shapiro was the co-founder and partner of Shapiro/West Associates, the burgeoning talent management banner that helped assemble the NBC mega-song “Seinfeld” and several projects for Andy Kaufman. Most recently, Shapiro served as executive producer of the Crackle/Netflix series “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee”, hosted by Seinfeld.
A lively personality, Shapiro was known for his longstanding client relationships and infectious enthusiasm for the entertainment business. The Shapiro family stated that “Shapiro’s love of laughter and reverence for those who inspired him helped him build a career in comedy as an unabashed supporter of comedians and comedy writers.”
Danny De Vito, who co-stars with Andy Kaufman on the influential sitcom “Taxi” from 1978 to 1983, made reference to Shapiro’s presence during production of the Paramount TV series that aired on ABC and NBC. De Vito later played Shapiro in Kaufman’s 1999 film “Man On the Moon” starring Jim Carrey.
“George was one of the sweetest men on the planet. We saw that smiling face every Friday night during our ‘Taxi’ days. He never missed a show,” De Vito said in a statement.
Shapiro’s role as a force in the comedy business for more than half a century was hailed in a statement from the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York, which was a founding member of the advisory board. “He deeply believed in our mission to celebrate and preserve the legacy of comedy,” said Jorney Gunderson, the center’s executive director.
Growing up in the Bronx, Shapiro forged a decades-long partnership with West, who was a childhood friend. Shapiro was related to Renner by marriage, as Renner’s wife’s nephew, Estelle Reiner. Shapiro’s formative years were chronicled in 2019 in the HBO documentary “The Bronx, USA”.
As a teenager, Shapiro spent summers working as a lifeguard at the popular Tamiment Resort in the Poconos where he learned the inner workings of showrunners and performers such as Dick Sean, Pat Carroll and Carol Burnett as well as singer Barbara Cook. He also met talent agents who sparked his interest in moving on to a behind-the-scenes role.
After graduating from New York University and serving a hitch in the army, Carl Rayner eventually helps Shapiro land a job in the mailroom of his talent agency, the powerful William Morris Agency. It wasn’t long until the energetic young man was promoted to a junior agent. He began packaging TV series and checking out the best comedy productions in mid-1960s New York, including Lenny Bruce, Mike Nichols, Ellen May and Phyllis Diller. He also brought his old friend West to the talent agency business.
As the industry developed, Shapiro realized he needed to relocate to Morris’ office on the West Coast to keep his finger on the pulse of talent. After moving, he helped put together such series as “Gomer Pyle, USMC”, “That Girl” and “The Steve Allen Show”.
By 1973, during another period of turmoil in the entertainment industry, Shapiro and West had set out on their own as managers. The duo’s eye for talent ensured that the company would be among the most prosperous management and production companies. West passed away in December 2015 at the age of 84.
For Kaufman, Shapiro served as executive producer of the Showtime special “Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall” and the legendary ABC “The Andy Kaufman Special.” Other specials he has put together include Showtime’s “Broadway Baby”, Seinfeld’s “Stand-Up Confidential” for HBO and the animated “The 2000 Year Old Man”, with Mel Brooks and Karl Reiner re-enacting the act of their beloved friend, for HBO.
Shapiro was a driving force behind “Man On the Moon,” the story of a troubled comedian genius who tragically died young in 1984 at the age of 35. In addition to serving as a main character in the film directed by Milos Forman, Shapiro also had a small role in the film itself.
Shapiro also produced the 2001 documentary The Comedy, which chronicles Jerry Seinfeld’s return to standing after the end of “Seinfeld.” Shapiro’s other film credits include the 1985 film Summer Rental, starring John Candy and Rip Torn. and 1987’s “Summer School” starring Mark Harmon and Kirsty Alley.
Shapiro has always been a hero for projects related to his home country. He produced the 2003 documentary “The Bronx Boys,” about Shapiro and West’s group of friends from their elementary school days as PS 80. It was followed 10 years later by “The Bronx Boys Still Playing at 80” for PBS. In 2017, Shapiro, Renner, Brooks, and others appeared in the HBO documentary about elderly comedians, “If You’re Not on the Obituary, Eat Breakfast.”
In 2020, after Karl Reiner passed away at the age of 98, Shapiro lovingly gave diverse A glimpse into how Rainer spent his last day, revealing that the comic legend passed peacefully with a pink hot dog in his stomach. “He’s out in three minutes,” Shapiro said. diverse. “It didn’t hurt. Everyone wants to go like this.”
Shapiro is survived by Melody Shapiro, his lifelong friend and mother of three children: son of Danny Shapiro, daughters of Carrie Shapiro Fuentes and Stephanie Shapiro. He is also survived by his brother, Don Shapiro, and five grandchildren: Adam Shapiro, Nathan Fuentes, Audrey Fuentes, Skylar Shapiro, and Alana Shapiro.
A memorial service for Shapiro will be held at a later time. The family requests donations to Festivus Fund through the California Community Foundation.
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