Howard Bragman, a titan of public relations who helped all-star clients through a conundrum while developing into a crisis PR guru and a crucial ally for LBGTQ rights, has passed away. He was 66.
An someone close to the family confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter. Additionally, on Saturday night, his friend John Duran tweeted about it.
“My dear old friend for the last 30 years passed away tonight. RIP Howard Bragman. LBGT warrior. Gentle giant. Wicked humor. Love you eternally. See you on the other side,” Duran’s tweet read.
Bragman was frequently on the list of people to call for assistance if a Hollywood celebrity was in need. He most recently represented the controversial talk show personality Wendy Williams, but over the years, he also represented Chaz Bono and Monica Lewinsky.
At a period when being “outed” might end a career, Bragman was also known for assisting secretly gay celebrities come out. Meredith Baxter, the star of Family Ties, was one of people he helped come clean with; she gave an interview after being worried that tabloids might publish images of her and her companion.
Notably, he was asked to assist Sam, a top NFL Draft prospect and then-University of Missouri defensive player, in his choice to come out publicly prior to the 2014 draught. Bragman would work with important media outlets like The New York Times, ESPN, and OutSports to plan the historic announcement.
In a statement on behalf of GLAAD, the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis celebrated Bragman as an industry leader, “who masterfully used the power of the press to create positive change and visibility for LGBTQ people.”
“Throughout his long career, he worked with many LGBTQ notables to ensure their coming out stories were treated with dignity and created impact for the entire community,” she continued. “His own visibility as an out executive, paired with a trademark humor and bold approach to public relations, made unforgettable marks on media, entertainment and public relations industries.”
Because of his fame as a result of his vast crisis management experience, Bragman was frequently asked by the media, including THR, to share his knowledge about famous people caught in the crossfire.
He was one of the founders of the public relations company Bragman Nyman Cafarelli, which Weber Shandwick Worldwide purchased in 2001 and combined with PMK to become PMK-BNC. Later, he founded La Brea Media and the PR agency Fifteen Minutes. He was named vice chairman of Reputation.com in 2011.
