Rick Nicita Explained

Rick Nicita
Birth Name:Charles Richard Nicita
Occupation:Talent agent; producer
former Creative Artists Agency
Years Active:1968–Present
Spouse:
    Children:Jesse (b. 1979), Zachary (b. 1987)

    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.

    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. 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.[4] [5]

    During his time with CAA, Rick Nicita maintained a client list that included Francis Ford Coppola,[6] Al Pacino,[7] [8] Rob Reiner,[9] Bette Midler, Mick Jagger,[10] David Lynch,[11] Christopher Walken,[12] Debra Winger,[13] Tom Cruise,[14] Anthony Hopkins,[15] Nicole Kidman,[16] Kurt Russell,[17] and Sally Field.[18]

    Morgan Creek and RPMedia

    Rick Nicita left Creative Artists Agency in 2008 to become Morgan Creek's Co-chairman and COO.[19] Nicita departed Morgan Creek in 2011,[20] [21] later returning to talent representation[22] via his self-created RPMedia shingle. (RP is an acronym for "Rick and Paula").[23]

    Personal life

    Rick Nicita is the son of Frances (née Scapolito) and Charles Nicita.[24] 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).[25] [26] [27] They divorced in 1983.[28] [29] 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.[30] [31] For many years, Rick Nicita and Paula Wagner were cited in the international media as "Hollywood's Power Couple".[32] [33] Nicita and Wagner remain married. They have a son, Zachary, born 1987.

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. 13 January 2017. Rick Nicita Retires Management Shingle To Focus On Producing. Deadline Hollywood. 15 December 2019.
    2. News: 3 November 2011. The Secrets of Hollywood Agency Mailrooms. The Hollywood Reporter. 15 December 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190607003400/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywood-mailroom-secrets-caa-icm-uta-wme-257222. 7 June 2019.
    3. News: 4 March 2003. Q&A: One of Hollywood's Top Agents. Wesleyan University Magazine. 15 December 2019.
    4. 4 October 2007. A Hollywood Agency With Star Power. Fortune. 15 December 2019.
    5. News: Stewart. James B.. 6 August 2016. Power, Ambition and Betrayal In Hollywood: James B. Stewart On "Powerhouse". subscription. The New York Times. 15 December 2019.
    6. 9 December 1997. Coppola Bids Bye-Bye to CAA. Variety. 15 December 2019.
    7. News: 9 April 2012. Al Pacino, Garry Marshall Sign with Newly Minted Manager Rick Nicita (Exclusive). Yahoo! News. The Hollywood Reporter. 15 December 2019.
    8. News: 29 March 1993. Academy Awards Acceptance Speech Database: Al Pacino, 1992. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 15 December 2019.
    9. News: 30 July 2008. Power Agent Changes Hats. Los Angeles Times. 15 December 2019.
    10. 24 November 1983. Mick Jagger: He's Hot, He's Sexy and He's Alive. Rolling Stone. 15 December 2019.
    11. Book: Lynch. David. McKenna. Kristine. 2018. [{{GBUrl|WJAlDwAAQBAJ}} Room to Dream]. Random House. 978-0-399-58920-1.
    12. Book: Rose, Frank. 1995. [{{GBUrl|sKwDcGnGKj8C}} The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business]. Harper Business. 978-0-887-30807-9.
    13. News: 5 November 2010. Debra Winger Drops Back In. subscription. The New York Times Magazine. 15 December 2019.
    14. News: 7 December 2006. Name Dropping. Chicago Tribune. 15 December 2019.
    15. 27 November 2008. CAA Loses Two Oscar Winners: Anthony Hopkins To Endeavor; Best Foreign Language Film Writer/Director To UTA. Deadline Hollywood. 15 December 2019.
    16. Book: Thomson, David. 2008. [{{GBUrl|ARZSoLqiWkYC}} Nicole Kidman]. Vintage Books. 978-0-307-48879-4.
    17. 5 March 1993. The $7 Million Man: Kurt Russell Earns Megabucks For His Starring Role In Stargate. Entertainment Weekly. 15 December 2019.
    18. 30 May 2017. A Hollywood Power Couple's Tailored New York Apartment. Architectural Digest. 15 December 2019.
    19. 29 July 2008. Nicita Departs CAA for Morgan Creek. Variety. 15 December 2019.
    20. 5 January 2012. Rick Nicita Speaks About Morgan Creek Exit. Deadline Hollywood. 15 December 2019.
    21. News: 5 January 2012. Rick Nicita Exiting Morgan Creek (Exclusive). The Hollywood Reporter. 15 December 2019.
    22. News: 18 December 2015. Sylvester Stallone Signs With Manager Rick Nicita. Yahoo! Lifestyle. 15 December 2019.
    23. News: 1 November 2012. Hollywood Player Joins the Club on Broadway. subscription. The New York Times. 15 December 2019.
    24. News: 6 May 2009. Frances M. "Fran" Nicita, 88, died May 3. Portland Press Herald.
    25. Book: Nashawaty, Chris. 2018. [{{GBurl|fBQ4DwAAQBAJ|pg=PA117}} Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story]. 117. Flatiron Books. 978-1-250-10597-4.
    26. News: 2 June 2014. Documentary Shines Light On Wallis Nicita '67 and Other Great Casting Directors. Connecticut College. 15 December 2019.
    27. News: April 4, 1999. Virginia H. 'Jean' Lindburg. The Washington Post. Survivors include two children, John Lindburg of Washington and Wallis Nicita of Los Angeles; two brothers; and two sisters..
    28. Web site: 14 Nov 1983. California Divorce Index, 1966-1984. registration. FamilySearch. 15 May 2014.
    29. Web site: 2007. Charles R Nicita and Wallis J. registration. Ancestry.com.
    30. News: 8 December 2006. Fine Print: Tom Party. The Telegraph (India). 15 December 2019.
    31. News: 29 April 2006. The Trouble With Tom. The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 December 2019.
    32. News: 29 April 2006. Tony-Winner Marissa Jaret Winokur To Perform At Garry Marshall Theatre 2nd Annual Founder's Gala. BroadwayWorld (Los Angeles). 15 December 2019.
    33. News: 9 April 2012. Are Power Couple Rick Nicita, Paula Wagner Going Into Business Together?. TheWrap. 15 December 2019.

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