Ed Limato: Last News

Mike Fleming Jr Co-Editor-in-Chief, FilmEXCLUSIVE: Academy Award-winning actor, director, producer and screenwriter Mel Gibson has signed with APA.Gibson had been at CAA, but left after the exit of his primary agents Jack Whigham and Michael Cooper. They went to Range Media Partners.

Jennifer Lopez is getting into her birthday spirit.

Jennifer Lopez just turned 54! The Hollywood star is celebrating her birthday with her closest friends and family members, wearing not one but two outfits. The actress looked stunning in a backless metallic dress, which was the perfect choice for her birthday dinner, as she revealed that her alter ego Lola made an appearance as she shared her joy with her loved ones.“Birthday mood…all month!! Always a good day when Lola comes to play…” Jennifer wrote on social media, sharing the moment she decided to dance on the table during the festivities, with the guests clapping and cheering.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor Jim Osborne is a product of the mailroom. The veteran talent agent, who has been named CEO of the newly christened Independent Artist Group, got his start in the representation field the old-fashioned way — by working his way of out of the ICM mailroom and assistant pool. Osborne has spent the past dozen years at APA, rising to partner in 2015 and to president in 2020. As of today, he advances to the top post, as APA combines into a new entity with Dennis Arfa’s music touring powerhouse Artist Group International. The deal brings such superstars into the fold as Billy Joel, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins, Linkin Park and the Strokes, and was orchestrated in part by investor Ron Burkle and his Yucaipa Co. (which owned Artist Intl. and invested in APA in 2020).

Sophia Scorziello editor Derek Luke always knew he wanted to be a hero — or rather, play one. But when the opportunity for him to join the Marvel universe arose in 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” he wasn’t so sure — even after his agent, the late Ed Limato, insisted. “If he sent me something, he would say, ‘Do you like it? Alright we’ll get him next time, kiddo, no pressure,’” Luke says. “This was the only script that he said, ‘You need to do this. And I’m like, ‘No. Absolutely not. First of all, Marvel, like, what is that?’” Limato was firm, so Luke took a meeting with Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige. Upon entering his office, Luke’s eyes were drawn to a section of the wall full of Black characters, ones he didn’t even know existed. Luke leaned in and took the role. 

Will Smith could run.The 59-year-old Hollywood actor has finally revealed the reason he would often be slapped by fans whenever he was at an airport.Cage, whose real name is Nicolas Coppola, said the bizarre trend was inspired by his 1987 film “Moonstruck,” in which he starred opposite singer Cher.In the film, Cher slaps Cage’s character.“For the longest time, back from ‘Moonstruck,’ I would walk to the airport and people just had a habit of saying: ‘Snap out of it!’ from Moonstruck – the Cher ‘Snap out of it’ [line] – and I did get slapped a few times,” he told Entertainment Tonight.“Oh yeah, I did! And that, you know, it’s part of the job,” he added.When asked why fans felt the need to raise a hand against the Oscar winner, Cage suspected it was because fans believed there could have been something in it for them.“I think maybe [they think] I’ll cast them in something. Who knows?” he quipped.Cage previously revealed that he almost turned down the role — but ultimately agreed to it after making a deal with his agent.“I made that movie on a deal with my then-agent Ed Limato.