Nancy Seltzer, Veteran Publicist for Garth Brooks, Sean Connery and More, Dies at 79

Nancy Seltzer, a revered public relations specialist whose career spanned decades and included a star-studded roster of clients from Garth Brooks to Sean Connery, passed away on Wednesday in Los Angeles. She was 79. Her boutique firm, Nancy Seltzer & Associates, which maintained offices in both New York and Los Angeles, confirmed her passing. Brooks, the country music icon, paid tribute, stating, "Public relations is the hardest job in show business. She always handled every situation with the utmost class."

Beginning her career in her native New York before establishing herself in Los Angeles, Seltzer's influence was felt across the entertainment industry. Her client list was a who's who of Hollywood, encompassing legendary actors like Richard Burton, Bette Davis, and Robert Downey Jr., as well as modern stars such as Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, and Hugh Jackman. In music, she represented luminaries including Whitney Houston and opera great Placido Domingo, while her literary clients featured bestselling author Danielle Steel. For years, she was a fixture as the lead publicist on the Academy Awards red carpet, managing the media frenzy around cinema's biggest night.

Her firm's work extended deeply into film promotion, where she helped shepherd numerous projects from production through Oscar campaigns. Seltzer's promotional expertise supported iconic films like "When Harry Met Sally…," "The Shawshank Redemption," and the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie. Other notable titles in her portfolio included "Silence of the Lambs," "Philadelphia," "Amadeus," and "Dead Man Walking." Industry observers often note that the transition from film release to awards season is a critical and delicate phase, one where Seltzer's strategic acumen proved invaluable in building lasting prestige for these works.

In a statement, her firm highlighted her personal integrity, noting, "Ms. Seltzer was particularly known for her extraordinary trust. She created long lasting friendships with people from all over the world to whom she was also wonderful, kind, caring, and fiercely loyal." This reputation for discretion and loyalty is considered a cornerstone of successful talent representation, allowing her to navigate high-pressure situations for her clients effectively.

Seltzer was predeceased by her parents, Nathan and Anne Seltzer, and her brother, Norman Seltzer. The family has suggested that those wishing to honor her memory consider making a donation to the Tower Cancer Research Foundation.