Irene Diamond
Irene Diamond | |
---|---|
Born | Irene Levine May 7, 1910 |
Died | January 21, 2003 New York City, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Talent scout, philanthropist |
Spouse | Aaron Diamond |
Irene Diamond (May 7, 1910 – January 21, 2003) was a Hollywood talent scout and later in life a philanthropist.
Early life
Irene Diamond was born Irene Levine on May 7, 1910.[1]
Career
Diamond was an assistant editor for Warner Brothers in their story division. During a 25-year collaboration with producer Hal B. Wallis, she made recommendations on many scripts, including The Maltese Falcon and Dark Victory. In 1941 on a visit to New York she read an unproduced play titled Everybody Comes to Rick's, by Murray Burnett and Joan Alison. After she persuaded Wallis to purchase the script for $20,000, he retitled it and produced the film Casablanca.[1]
Philanthropy
Diamond was co-chair of the Aaron Diamond Foundation with her husband from the 1950s onwards.[1] They established the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in 1991.[1]
Diamond founded the Irene Diamond Fund in 1994.[1] The fund endowed AIDS research.[1]
In 1999, then U.S. President Bill Clinton presented her with the National Medal of Arts award. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2001.[2]
Personal life
She was married to real estate developer Aaron Diamond.[1] They resided on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City.[1]
Death
Diamond died on January 21, 2003 in New York City.[1]