Ronald Meyer

Ronald Meyer Biography

Ron Meyer (b. 1944) is an American entertainment executive and former talent agent.

Early life

Ron Meyer was born to Jewish immigrant parents who escaped Nazi Germany. His family's love for film influenced him at an early age. At fifteen Ron dropped out of high school, and at the age of seventeen he joined the United States Marine Corps, which he served in until the age of nineteen. At the age of nineteen he began working for the Paul Kohner Agency in Los Angeles as an agent from 1964 to 1970. Ron then moved on to work from 1970 to 1975 as a talent agent for the William Morris Agency.

Beginning of Business Career

At a lunch with some of his friends in 1975, Ron and his buddies came up with the idea of starting an agency to represent talent in the very diverse and ever-thriving area of Los Angeles. They opened up in a rented office with card tables, folding chairs, and their wives serving as the secretaries. This agency, named Creative Artists Agency, is one of the premiere talent representation agencies, and has represented the likes of Martin Scorsese. They later expanded its range of services to include consulting with leading American and international corporations.

Current career

Presently, he serves as the President & COO of Universal Studios, (formerly MCA), and has held this position since August 1995, from the time Seagram (then led by Edgar Bronfman, Jr.), acquired the controlling interest in the company up to the recent purchase of Universal by General Electric. He is the longest serving chief of a major motion picture company in the history of Hollywood.

Personal life

He lives in Malibu, California, with his wife, Kelly Chapman, and has three daughters and a son. His daughter Jennifer Meyer, is married to actor Tobey Maguire.