Roy Gerber Dies

Roy Gerber, the one-time agent and manager who was the inspiration for schlumpy sportswriter and roommate-from-hell Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple," died in Beverly Hills of complications from a brain tumor August 21st, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gerber, 82, was head of Roy Gerber and Associates from 1978 to 2002.

He started his show business career as a theatrical agent in Manhattan after World War II, forming an agency that was acquired by MCA in 1954.

He and one-time partner Norman Weiss joined General Artists Corp. in the early ’60s, where they represented The Beatles, the Lovin’ Spoonful, the Mamas and the Papas, Johnny Rivers, Richard Pryor, Tom Jones and others.

During a separation from his first wife, Gerber roomed with Danny Simon, brother of playwright Neil Simon, who took inspiration from the agent in writing the play, "The Odd Couple."