Veteran Hollywood publicist and political activist Stephen M. Rivers died Tuesday after a lengthy bout with prostate cancer. He was 55.
Over the span of his publicity career, Rivers represented some of the most recognizable names in entertainment, including director and actor Kevin Costner, actor Richard Dreyfuss, director Oliver Stone, playwright Anna Deavere Smith, actress Jane Fonda and former super-agent Michael Ovitz.
"I visited Stephen only a few days ago, and he looked and acted extremely well considered his condition, so I was absolutely shocked by the very sad news," Ovitz said. "We worked side by side for five years together, and not only was he the most wonderful person to be around, he became a trusted advisor and a friend of the family. He handled his duties with the most extraordinary grace and professionalism at all times. His even temperament was a great asset to [Creative Artists Agency] and to me. He will be deeply missed."
Rivers had a passion for politics and social activism. In addition to his marketing and publicity campaigns for films, he helped to organize events for the Middle East peace organization Seeds for Peace, the Magic Johnson Foundation and the music industry's Rock the Vote initiative. In 2006, Rivers worked on the U.S. media launch of Product (Red), in which corporations pledge profits from the sale of certain items toward AIDS treatment and prevention programs in Africa.
The publicist traveled to Cuba more than two dozen times in the last decade, seeking to foster improved U.S.-Cuba relations. He brought filmmakers Costner, Steven Spielberg and Steven Soderbergh to Havana to present their films to audiences there and participated in several congressional and trade delegations to the island. In December 2008, he organized a visit by Benicio Del Toro to the Havana Film Festival for the premiere of "Che."
Before launching his own firm in 1994, Rivers worked for four years at Creative Artists Agency, handling a range of the agency's talent and oversaw the agency's governmental affairs and political and charitable activities. He organized a major Democratic fundraiser held at CAA with President Clinton.
