Warren Cowan


Executive, Publicist

About

Birth Place
New York City, New York, USA
Born
March 13, 1921
Died
May 14, 2008
Cause of Death
Heart Failure

Biography

After a stint with public relations company Alan Gordon and Associates and service in the Air Force during WWII, Cowan teamed with veteran publicist Henry Rogers to form Rogers and Cowan in 1949. The company prospered as the Hollywood studio system broke down in the 1950s and the in-house studio publicity staffs no longer routinely fed competitive gossip columnists news of the studio's c...

Family & Companions

Barbara Rush
Wife
Actor. Divorced.
Barbara Crane Cowan
Wife
Manager, producer. Previously married to the late Paul Gilbert; had three children.

Biography

After a stint with public relations company Alan Gordon and Associates and service in the Air Force during WWII, Cowan teamed with veteran publicist Henry Rogers to form Rogers and Cowan in 1949. The company prospered as the Hollywood studio system broke down in the 1950s and the in-house studio publicity staffs no longer routinely fed competitive gossip columnists news of the studio's contract stars. Public relations companies filled the void and Rogers and Cowan grew into one of the largest Hollywood firms in the field, with nearly 200 employees and a client roster that has included Elizabeth Taylor, Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Cybill Shepherd, Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood and Michael Keaton. In the 1980s, it expanded into serving corporate accounts. Rogers and Cowan was sold in 1991 and Cowan left the business the following year. After a two year hiatus, he opened a new firm, Cowan and Associates.

Filmography

 

Cast (Feature Film)

3055 Jean Leon (2007)

Publicity (Feature Film)

The Governess (1998)
Publicity (Phil Symes & Associates)

Life Events

1941

Entered public relations with Alan Gordon & Associates

1943

Served in United States Air Force during World War II

1945

Joined Henry C. Rogers publicity office

1949

Became partner in public relations business which changed name to Rogers and Cowan

1960

Appointed advisor, Rogers and Cowan, Inc.

1964

Became president, Rogers and Cowan

1983

Appointed chairman, Rogers and Cowan

1992

Announced he would retire when his contract expired July 1

1994

Returned to work as a publicist with new firm, Cowan & Associates

Family

Rubey Cowan
Father
Songwriter.
Harry Crane
Father-In-Law
Screenwriter, comedy writer, TV series creator. Died of cancer on September 13, 1999 at age 85.
Stanley Earl Cowan
Brother
Composer, author, publicity agent. Born c. 1918, died of heart failure December 14, 1991; began career in 1930s as songwriter ("Taps 'Til Reveille", "Listen to Me" and "A Cowgirl Dreams On"); composed music for the "Ice Capades"; formed own public relations firm, Stanley Cowan & Associates in the 1960s; later joined Rogers & Cowan.
Claudia Cowan
Daughter
Mother Barbara Rush.
Melissa Gilbert
Step-Daughter
Actor.
Sara Gilbert
Step-Daughter
Actor.
Jonathan Gilbert
Step-Son
Actor.

Companions

Barbara Rush
Wife
Actor. Divorced.
Barbara Crane Cowan
Wife
Manager, producer. Previously married to the late Paul Gilbert; had three children.

Bibliography