Jill Schary Robinson, Author and Mother of UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer, Dies at 88

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As a huge fan of Jill Schary Robinson‘s work, I am deeply saddened by the news of her passing at the age of 88. Her extraordinary life experiences and rich literary legacy have left an indelible mark on both the Hollywood industry and the literary world.

Jill Schary Robinson, an accomplished author, journalist, and novelist, passed away at the age of 88. Her father, Dore Schary, held a prominent position as head of MGM in the 1950s. Her son, Jeremy Zimmer, is the founder and CEO of United Talent Agency.

Schary Robinson died Saturday at her home in Beverly Hills, her family announced.

I was fascinated by how she brought her Hollywood childhood memories to life in her first memoir, “With a Cast of Thousands,” published in 1963. Then came two more captivating accounts – “Thanks for the Rubies, Now Please Pass the Moon” from 1972 and “Bed/Time/Story” in 1974. Each book offered an intriguing glimpse into her experiences during the Golden Age.

The heartfelt tale “Bed/Time/Story” obtained funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and was later broadcast as a 1980 NBC film titled “A Cry for Love“. In this production, Susan Blakely and Powers Boothe delivered captivating performances.

“Her writing about the alluring and distorting influence of Hollywood on our lives is unmatched, as noted by The New York Times. John Lahr in The New Yorker referred to her as the ‘Whitman of Sunset Boulevard,’ while Dominick Dunne from Vanity Fair admired her skill in crafting exquisite sentences.”

Between 1978 and 1983, she released the novels “Lost One” titled as “Perdido,” “Doctor Rocksinger and the Era of Yearning,” and “Come with Me to Paris.”

Born on May 30, 1936, in Los Angeles, she is one of three siblings. Her father, a successful writer, gained an Oscar for penning Spencer Tracy’s “Boys Town” (1938) screenplay and a Tony Award in 1958 for “Sunrise at Campobello.” Notably, he managed MGM productions from 1948 to 1956, making him an exceptional figure as a writer leading a film studio. Her mother was the painter Miriam Svet.

During the 1960s, Schary Robinson kick-started her writing journey at Foote, Cone & Belding as a copywriter, receiving guidance from Helen Gurley Brown. She then delved into penning articles on women’s matters for Cosmopolitan, helmed by Brown. Additionally, she reported on political trials for the Soho Weekly News. In Los Angeles, Robinson hosted a talk show on KLAC and conducted interviews with influential political and film figures for KPFK radio.

In the 1980s, I moved to London and started writing columns for The Daily Telegraph about my experiences as an American living in Britain. I had the opportunity to interview some incredible people like Lily Tomlin and Barbara Walters. My story on Roman Polanski was even included in George Plimpton’s renowned 1988 book, The Best American Movie Writing.

In the 1990s, she carried on with “Star Country” and “Past Forgetting,” which “Vanity Fair” referred to as an “extraordinary account of her quest to regain her memory.” Then, in 2002, she teamed up with her third spouse, Stuart Shaw, to pen “Falling in Love When You Thought You Were Through: A Love Story.”

In 2021, an collection of her writings titled “Go Find Out” was released. Last year saw the publication of her last novel, called “Come Home Canyon“.

In the year 2005, Schary Robinson received a grant allowing her to establish and nurture the non-profit organization, Wimpole Street Writers, based in London. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she carried on leading this community of writers where they could share and exchange ideas.

In this initiative, she conducted workshops for the Veterans Administration and organized dinners for budding writers under an unwritten condition: “No work, no meal.” Additionally, she was an ardent and dedicated participant in Alcoholics Anonymous.

I’ve always had these two strong passions: writing and staying sober. And you know what? They’ve allowed me to connect with so many amazing individuals out there. By sharing my own experiences, I’ve been able to make a positive impact on their lives. My family has observed this and they couldn’t be prouder.

In 2009, she significantly contributed to the campaign to preserve the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement home in Woodland Hills.

Throughout her professional journey, she additionally contributed book reviews and penned articles for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and both American and French versions of Vogue.

Two of the men who previously married her were named Jon Zimmer and Jeremiah Robinson. Besides her son, she leaves behind a daughter named Johanna, as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

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2024-07-22 19:55