Press agent to the stars Warren Cowan dies at 87

Press agent to the stars Warren Cowan dies at 87

LOS ANGELES — Legendary Hollywood press agent Warren Cowan, who represented stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman and Frank Sinatra, has died. He was 87. In a statement, his firm, Warren Cowan Associates, said he died Wednesday at Cedars-Sinai Hospital, three weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

The jovial Cowan, known for working the press lines at awards shows and other events, was still actively promoting clients in his office Tuesday. In February, for example, he issued a statement for Newman humorously denying rumors about Newman’s “failing health.” The actor said doctors “have been treating me for athlete’s foot and hair loss.”

Cowan and his mentor, Henry C. Rogers, founded Rogers Cowan in 1950 and saw it become one of the world’s biggest entertainment public relations firms. Among its stable of celebrity clients were Danny Kaye, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Shirley MacLaine, Roberto Benigni and Elton John. In 1988, Rogers Cowan was sold to the British conglomerate Shandwick PLC. Cowan set up his new company, Warren Cowan Associates, six years later. Rogers died in 1995 at age 82.

Jolie reveals secrets for coping with pregnancy

CANNES, France — Angelina Jolie, pregnant with twins, has some secrets for staying serene at the Cannes Film Festival: get her partner, Brad Pitt, to baby-sit, and wear comfy shoes on the red carpet. Jolie was at the festival Thursday to promote DreamWorks’ animated “Kung Fu Panda.” She’ll be busy at Cannes, as she also stars in Clint Eastwood’s “Changeling,” which is also being shown.

But the mother of four — soon to be six — swears she’s not working too hard. The 32-year-old actress also confirmed that she’s thinking about giving birth in France.

Grant, Hurley win case

LONDON — Two photo agencies have agreed to pay $113,000 to Hugh Grant, his ex-girlfriend Liz Hurley and her husband for taking photos of them while they were vacationing in the Maldives. Britain’s High Court says The Big Pictures and Eliot Press Sarl agencies apologized Thursday for using a long lens to violate the trio’s privacy while they were at an island resort in October. The pictures appeared in several newspapers.

Grant, Hurley and her husband, Arun Nayar, have released a statement saying it was “reprehensible” that photos were taken of Hurley’s son playing naked on the beach. The trio plan to donate the money to a cancer charity.

Today’s birthdays

Jazz drummer Billy Cobham is 64. Actor Pierce Brosnan is 55. Actress Debra Winger is 53. Singer Janet Jackson is 42. Actress Tracey Gold is 39. Actress Tori Spelling is 35. Actor Marc John Jefferies (“The Tracy Morgan Show”) is 18.