Rick Nicita

Rick Nicita (born Charles Richard Nicita; December 15, 1945) is an American entertainment executive, talent agent, and motion picture/TV producer. Nicita is a former co-chairman and managing partner of Creative Artists Agency.

Rick Nicita
Born
Charles Richard Nicita

(1945-12-15) December 15, 1945
Mount Vernon, New York
Occupation(s)Talent agent; producer
former Creative Artists Agency
co-chairman and managing partner
Years active1968–Present
Spouses
Wallis Nicita
​
(div. 1983)​
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
    ChildrenJesse (b. 1979), Zachary (b. 1987)

    Career

    William Morris Agency

    Before turning exclusively to production and consultation in 2017,[1] Rick Nicita spent five decades as a professional talent agent and manager starting May 1968 with the William Morris Agency (WMA), New York City, and later transferring to WMA's Beverly Hills offices in 1976. At WMA, Nicita started in the mailroom and earned his full agenting position over time, a traditional rite of initiation.[2]

    In a 2003 interview, Rick Nicita detailed his early days with William Morris: "I had dropped out of Fordham Law School when I realized that very little of the study and practice of law interested me. I spent many weeks trying to figure out what I wanted to do--- not what I should do, or what was easiest, or what society wanted me to do, but what I wanted to do. I always loved movies so I decided that I would be in the movie business. I called a fraternity brother who was temporarily working at William Morris and asked him to help me get a job there. I didn't even know what an agent did. I loved it the minute I started."[3]

    Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

    Rick Nicita left the William Morris Agency in 1980 to join then four year-old Creative Artists Agency, this after being hand-selected by CAA's leadership of the time, which included founders Michael Ovitz and Ronald Meyer.[4] Nicita was later named co-chairman of CAA and then managing partner, all of this within the historical era in which CAA was considered the world's dominant talent agency.[5][6]

    During his time with CAA, Rick Nicita maintained a client list that included Francis Ford Coppola,[7] Al Pacino,[8][9] Rob Reiner,[10] Bette Midler,[11] Mick Jagger,[12] David Lynch,[13] Christopher Walken,[14] Debra Winger,[15] Tom Cruise,[16] Anthony Hopkins,[17]Nicole Kidman,[18] Kurt Russell,[19] and Sally Field.[20]

    Morgan Creek and RPMedia

    Rick Nicita left Creative Artists Agency in 2008 to become Morgan Creek's Co-chairman and COO.[21] Nicita departed Morgan Creek in 2011,[22][23] later returning to talent representation[24] via his self-created RPMedia shingle. (RP is an acronym for "Rick and Paula").[25]

    Personal life

    Rick Nicita is the son of Frances (née Scapolito) and Charles Nicita.[26] Nicita was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He and his family moved to Larchmont, New York in 1952, where he graduated from Mamaroneck High School, class of '63. Nicita later attended Wesleyan University, graduating class of '67.

    In 1969, Rick Nicita married casting director/producer Wallis Nicita (née Lindburg).[27][28][29] They divorced in 1983.[30][31] They have a son, Jesse, born 1979.

    In 1984, Nicita married fellow CAA talent agent, Paula Wagner. Wagner later moved into producing when she and former client, Tom Cruise, formed Cruise/Wagner Productions.[32][33] For many years, Rick Nicita and Paula Wagner were cited in the international media as "Hollywood's Power Couple".[34][35] Nicita and Wagner remain married. They have a son, Zachary, born 1987.

    References
    1. "Rick Nicita Retires Management Shingle To Focus On Producing". Deadline Hollywood. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    2. "The Secrets of Hollywood Agency Mailrooms". The Hollywood Reporter. 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    3. "Q&A: One of Hollywood's Top Agents". Wesleyan University Magazine. 4 March 2003. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    4. Ovitz 2018, p. 107.
    5. "A Hollywood Agency With Star Power". Fortune. 4 October 2007. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    6. Stewart, James B. (6 August 2016). "Power, Ambition and Betrayal In Hollywood: James B. Stewart On "Powerhouse"". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    7. "Coppola Bids Bye-Bye to CAA". Variety. 9 December 1997. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    8. "Al Pacino, Garry Marshall Sign with Newly Minted Manager Rick Nicita (Exclusive)". Yahoo! News. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019 – via The Hollywood Reporter.
    9. "Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database: Al Pacino, 1992". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 29 March 1993. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    10. "Power Agent Changes Hats". Los Angeles Times. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    11. Ovitz 2018, p. 205.
    12. "Mick Jagger: He's Hot, He's Sexy and He's Alive". Rolling Stone. 24 November 1983. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    13. Lynch, David; McKenna, Kristine (2018). Room to Dream. Random House. ISBN 978-0-399-58920-1.
    14. Rose, Frank (1995). The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business. Harper Business. ISBN 978-0-887-30807-9.
    15. "Debra Winger Drops Back In". The New York Times Magazine. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    16. "Name Dropping". Chicago Tribune. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    17. "CAA Loses Two Oscar Winners: Anthony Hopkins To Endeavor; Best Foreign Language Film Writer/Director To UTA". Deadline Hollywood. 27 November 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    18. Thomson, David (2008). Nicole Kidman. Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-307-48879-4.
    19. "The $7 Million Man: Kurt Russell Earns Megabucks For His Starring Role In Stargate". Entertainment Weekly. 5 March 1993. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    20. "A Hollywood Power Couple's Tailored New York Apartment". Architectural Digest. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    21. "Nicita Departs CAA for Morgan Creek". Variety. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    22. "Rick Nicita Speaks About Morgan Creek Exit". Deadline Hollywood. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    23. "Rick Nicita Exiting Morgan Creek (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    24. "Sylvester Stallone Signs With Manager Rick Nicita". Yahoo! Lifestyle. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    25. "Hollywood Player Joins the Club on Broadway". The New York Times. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    26. "Frances M. "Fran" Nicita, 88, died May 3". Portland Press Herald. 6 May 2009.
    27. Nashawaty, Chris (2018). Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story. Flatiron Books. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-250-10597-4.
    28. "Documentary Shines Light On Wallis Nicita '67 and Other Great Casting Directors". Connecticut College. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    29. "Virginia H. 'Jean' Lindburg". The Washington Post. April 4, 1999. Survivors include two children, John Lindburg of Washington and Wallis Nicita of Los Angeles; two brothers; and two sisters.
    30. "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984". FamilySearch. 14 Nov 1983. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
    31. "Charles R Nicita and Wallis J". Ancestry.com. 2007.
    32. "Fine Print: Tom Party". The Telegraph (India). 8 December 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    33. "The Trouble With Tom". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 April 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    34. "Tony-Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur To Perform At Garry Marshall Theatre 2nd Annual Founder's Gala". BroadwayWorld (Los Angeles). 29 April 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
    35. "Are Power Couple Rick Nicita, Paula Wagner Going Into Business Together?". TheWrap. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2019.

    Bibliography
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