Adam Leon: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to the dramedy Queen of Glory, written, directed by and starring Nana Mensah, from Magnolia Pictures International, with plans to release it in theaters and on digital and VOD later this year.

Michael Leon, long time music industry executive and husband of 42 West founder and preeminent publicist Leslee Dart, passed away on April 2nd. He was 76 years old. After joining famed independent label A&M Records in 1976, he rose to Senior Vice President and Head of East Coast Operations. Known for his gregarious management style and his ear for emerging talent, he was instrumental in the development of the careers of Suzanne Vega, Joan Armitrading, The Police, Squeeze, and Supertramp, among many others.Leon also served as a Vice President of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, the Head of International for EMI Records Group, and President of independent label Hybrid Records.After marrying Dart in 1996, he was often seen by her side at gala events around the world, embracing the role of being, as he often called himself, “Mr. Dart” (he even changed his email name to “mistadart”).Dart founded 42 West in 2004 after rising to prominence as President at PMK. Her clients included Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsesee, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicole Kidman, Darren Aronofsky, and Meryl Streep. She oversaw the sale of 42 West, a company she built from two initial employees into one of the biggest PR businesses in Hollywood, to Dolphin Entertainment in 2017, and she retired from the business in 2021.In addition to Dart, Leon is survived by his two sons, noted filmmaker Adam Leon (Gimme The Loot, Tramps) and Matthew Leon, currently an employee in the CAA music department.

William Earl Music industry veteran Michael Leon died on April 2 in Beverly Hills. He was 76. A cause of death was not revealed. A longtime label executive, who was married to powerhouse publicist Leslee Dart, Leon’s career began at Bell Records, home to albums in the 1960s and 1970s by Al Green, the 5th Dimension and Shirley Jones, whose repertoire was later absorbed by Arista. He went on to join revered independent label A&M Records in 1976, where he would ascend to senior VP and head of East Coast operations. While at A&M, Leon took on the role of VP of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and was tasked with spearheading the museum’s initial exhibition. Among his credits while at the Rock Hall: championing architect I.M. Pei for the museum contract as well as the city of Cleveland.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle EditorVanessa Kirby didn’t go all Method for “Italian Studies,” but she didn’t need to in order for her character to seem a little out of sorts.“The Crown” actor filmed the Adam Leon-directed indie drama — she stars as Alina, a successful writer who finds herself wandering around New York City with a group of teens after she suddenly suffers severe memory loss — while doing a play in London.“Adam said, ‘I don’t want you to have a process. I want you to come as you are. If you are knackered, you come knackered,’” Kirby, who earned an Oscar nomination for her work in “Pieces of a Woman,” tells me on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast.When she was jet-lagged, which she was many times after coming to the New York set straight from a transatlantic flight, Leon told her to lean in.

Fathom Events presents Betty White: A Celebration in 1,529 locations nationwide, a one-day-only special event on Monday honoring the actress who died Dec. 31 just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. The star-studded reflection on White’s life and career, which had already been set by filmmakers Steven Boettcher and Mike Trinklein to celebrate her centennial Jan. 17, will run three showtimes at 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm.