Marilyn Monroe Publicist Julian Myers Has Died at 95

Julian Myers, one of the last of the old time movie studio publicists, died December 21 from congestive heart failure at the age of 95.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on February 22, 1918, Myers began his association with Hollywood  in 1937 when he traveled west to be one of the first students at what would become the USC Film School.  During his thirteen years at 20th Century-Fox (1949 – 1961), Myers was the “backup publicist” for Marilyn Monroe, a job that required pulling the notoriously late actress out of bed and getting her on time to interviews and photo shoots.  He was known for such stunts as blacking out all the letters in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel sign except the EVE in Roosevelt the night of the “All About Eve” premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

Myers opened his own firm in 1962.  Among the clients he represented were Ray Walston of “My Favorite Martian” and Cloris Leachman.  After closing the firm and an unsuccessful attempt at starting a television station, he spent twelve years at American-International Pictures, which specialized in fast and furious B movies, including a cycle of films based on Edgar Allan Poe stories.  When he opened a new publicity firm in 1992, he told Variety that his offices would be “round the clock” and he would be available “at any hour” seven days a week.

Honored by the Publicist’s Guild with its Robert Yeager Award in 1978, the Les Mason Award in 1980, and a “Special Award of Merit” in 1998, Myers was also a formidable senior athlete.  A few months before his death he set an age group 800 meter dash record in the Huntsman Senior Games, and he participated in marathons as far away as Greece into his late 80s.

Myers is survived by three children from his first marriage – Fredricka, Jon and Eric, a New York publicist, author and literary agent– 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  His 43-year second marriage ended in October with the death of his wife, attorney Patsy Nanna Myers.