Martin Jurow

Biography

Martin Jurow (December 14, 1911 – February 12, 2004) was an American film producer, talent agent, and Hollywood executive. He was known for producing several classic films, including Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), The Pink Panther (1963), The Great Race (1965), and Terms of Endearment (1983).

Early Life

Martin Jurow was born in Brooklyn, New York. He studied at the College of William & Mary and later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1936. After completing his studies, he entered the entertainment business through law and talent representation.

Career in Hollywood

Jurow began his career as a talent agent and became head of the film department at the William Morris Agency. He later worked as an executive assistant to major Hollywood figures before moving into film production.

He formed Jurow-Shepherd Productions with producer Richard Shepherd. Their early films included The Hanging Tree (1959) and The Fugitive Kind (1960), the latter starring Marlon Brando and Anna Magnani.

Major Productions

Jurow produced several successful and influential films, including:

• The Hanging Tree (1959)
• The Fugitive Kind (1960)
• Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
• Soldier in the Rain (1963)
• The Pink Panther (1963)
• The Great Race (1965)
• Terms of Endearment (1983) 

Breakfast at Tiffany's

One of Jurow's greatest achievements was producing Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), directed by Blake Edwards and starring Audrey Hepburn.

The film became a classic of American cinema and helped establish Hepburn's image as one of Hollywood's most iconic actresses. Jurow played an important role in bringing the Truman Capote adaptation to the screen.

The Pink Panther

Jurow produced The Pink Panther (1963), also directed by Blake Edwards. The film introduced Peter Sellers as the famous detective Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a role that became one of his most celebrated performances.

Later Career

After leaving Hollywood for a period, Jurow moved to Texas and worked in law. He later returned to filmmaking and co-produced Terms of Endearment (1983), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Personal Life and Death

Jurow was married to Erin Jo Jurow. He died on February 12, 2004, in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 92.