Dennis McDougal, Author of Books About Lew Wasserman, Jack Nicholson and Bob Dylan, Dies at 77

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Dennis McDougal, previously known for his coverage of Hollywood at the Los Angeles Times, passed away on Saturday due to injuries sustained in a vehicular accident. At the time of his demise, he was 77 years old.

McDougal and his wife Sharon, aged 76, were traveling from their Memphis home to visit family in the Los Angeles region when their vehicle was hit from behind on Interstate 10 close to Palm Springs, as reported by Megan Cole Lyle to the Times.

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While on their way from Memphis to visit relatives in the LA area, McDougal and his wife Sharon, both 76 years old, had a car accident on Interstate 10 near Palm Springs when another vehicle hit them from behind, as per Megan Cole Lyle’s account to the Times.

The pair was helicoptered to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, and he subsequently passed away there. Two days after the incident, Sharon McDougal succumbed to her wounds.

McDougal’s book titled “The Last Mogul, Lew Wasserman, MCA and the Hidden History of Hollywood“, published in 1998, was recognized as the 59th greatest film book of all time by The Hollywood Reporter, according to their October 2023 list.

In my gaming world, I delved into 200 conversations to uncover the tale of a man who rose from humble beginnings to build MCA into the biggest talent agency globally, managed Universal Studios, and held the title as the most influential figure in Tinseltown’s history. However, it seems that not all parts of his story shine as brightly; the book’s introduction mentions a shadow over it: ‘Lew Wasserman himself didn’t want this book to see the light of day.’

Following the announcement, McDougal participated on a panel hosted by Scott Feinberg from THR at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood alongside other recognized authors such as George Stevens Jr., Cameron Crowe, Kim Masters, Leonard Maltin, Eddie Muller, and Aljean Harmetz.

McDougal penned a total of fourteen books, one of which is titled “Blood Cold: Fame, Sex, and Murder in Hollywood,” published in 2002, focusing on actor Robert Blake and his slain wife Bonny Lee Bakley. Another book, released in 2008, is called “Five Easy Decades: How Jack Nicholson Became the Biggest Movie Star in Modern Times.” Lastly, a biography of Dylan was published in 2014.

Additionally, he wrote “Privileged Son,” published in 2001, a biography of the former publisher of The Times, Otis Chandler. This book was described by Martin Smith, a previous senior editor at the Los Angeles Times Magazine, as one of the clearest and most insightful histories of Los Angeles and those who shaped it that you’ll likely come across.

The 2009 PBS documentary titled “Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times,” which was narrated by Liev Schreiber, is a portrayal of its adaptation.

McDougal, born on November 25, 1947, in Pasadena, California, spent his childhood in Lynwood. He served in the United States Navy, eventually graduating with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UCLA. Afterward, he secured jobs at newspapers in Palm Springs and the Riverside Press Enterprise and Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Or, more informally:

McDougal was born on November 25, 1947, in Pasadena, California. He grew up in Lynwood. After serving in the U.S. Navy and earning his degrees from UCLA, he started working at newspapers in Palm Springs and later for the Riverside Press Enterprise and Long Beach Press-Telegram.

1982 saw him begin his tenure at the L.A. Times, and it wasn’t until 1991 that his initial book, “Angel of Darkness,” detailing the story of Southern California serial killer Randy Kraft, was released. The following year, he collaborated with Pierce O’Donnell to publish “Fatal Subtraction: The Inside Story of Buchwald v. Paramount.” In 1993, he decided to leave the newspaper to dedicate himself fully to writing books.

His latest work, titled “Citizen Wynn: A Sin City Chronicle of Power, Lust, and Unrelenting Ambition, is set for release in May. At the time of his passing, he had been writing a book about his daughter Amy, who was tragically murdered in Mexico in 2020.

Survivors include his children, Jennifer, Kate, Fitz and Andrea, and 15 grandchildren.

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2025-03-28 00:24