Jeff Wald, who managed celebrities like Sylvester Stallone, Roseanne Barr and Donna Summer, died on Friday. The cause of death is not yet known. He was 77.
His death was first reported by Variety and quickly drew reactions from fellow Hollywood heavy hitters and fans.
Boxer George Foreman posted a tribute Saturday, as did Sergio Mora, who wrote, “Just getting word that Jeff Wald, longtime boxing promoter, producer and the man who gave me a shot on The Contender years ago, passed away today. What a life that man lived and the stories he told. Condolences to his wife Deborah and his daughter Sarah.”
Wald managed singer Helen Reddy (“I Am Woman,” “Delta Dawn”), whom he was also married to for 18 years. He also married actress Candy Clark (“American Graffiti”) in the late 1980s. The two divorced after one year of marriage.
In 2011, he opened up about his substance use and time in the Betty Ford Center, telling The Hollywood Reporter that he was proud of his quarter-century sobriety, marriage, kids and career success.
During his decades-long career, his management company took on the likes of David Crosby, Stallone, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis and Mike Tyson. He eventually moved into production, producing “The Roseanne Show,” “Switched at Birth,” “The Contender” and more, including high-profile fights, like Foreman’s final two.