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As a college student in Southern Illinois, Joe Bucz indulged in two passions: watching the movies of his favorite actors, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Steve McQueen, and following the careers of his favorite college QBs like Pat Haden, Mark Harmon and Steve Sloan. His dreams of meeting his idols would soon become a reality, as he landed a job at the famous talent agency in Los Angeles, William Morris.
Hollywood Wingman shares the story of Joe's whirlwind career, from being an assistant to Clint Eastwood's agent, reading his way up the ladder for the producer of The Sting, working in the sales office for the Buss family and the Lakers, and finally, thanks to his mentor Bruce Paltrow, partnering with Mark Harmon at Paramount studios. This fascinating memoir will take you behind the scenes in Hollywood from the 1970's to the early 2000's.
About the author
Joseph Bucz was raised in a small suburb of Chicago, Willow Springs, where he developed a passion for both movies and sports. While attending St. Laurence High School, he was inspired by the performances of three movie stars in three consecutive years - Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde, Steve McQueen in Bullitt, and Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Upon graduation from Southern Illinois, where he met Beatty while he was campaigning for George McGovern, he set out for Los Angeles to pursue his acting dream. Thus began a thirty-five-year odyssey in Tinsel Town where he not only met numerous stars and celebrities, but also befriended and socialized with them as well. For twenty of those years, he also worked for the maverick owner of the LA Lakers, Dr. Jerry Buss, and his children, where life in the fast lane was the norm. He wound up with his name in an LA Times article, a credit on a feature film, an announcement on the front page of the Hollywood Reporter, his profile in the Paramount Studios newsletter, his name in the game program of the NHL Stanley Cup Championship and four professional sports Championship rings (and counting). He is most proud, however, that the LA Times has printed seven of his sports opinion letters over the years covering every sport.
