Paul Bloch

Paul Bloch, who represented the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy while specializing in damage control during his five-plus decades as an esteemed Hollywood publicist, has died. He was 78. The colorful Rogers & Cowan chairman, who started at the agency in its mailroom in 1961 and was known for wearing two wristwatches and a different sweater every day, died Friday morning May 25 2018 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after a long illness, the publicity firm said. Bloch also did publicity for Steven Seagal, John Travolta, Sharon Stone, Farrah Fawcett, Randy Quaid, Kevin Costner, Vin Diesel, Danny Glover, Anna Nicole Smith, Rod Stewart, Michael Keaton, James Caan, Jerry Weintraub, Robert Zemeckis, Jerry Bruckheimer, John Hughes, Brian Grazer, Billy Bob Thornton, Geena Davis, Anthony Hopkins, Dawn Steel, Glenn Gordon Caron, Steve Bing, Chris Tucker and David & Victoria Beckham. A native of Brooklyn, Bloch moved to Los Angeles with his family as a youngster. After attending University High School, he started basic training for the U.S. Army in 1957 at Fort Ord in Monterey, California, and served six months of active duty. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in political science in 1962. At Rogers & Cowan, Bloch was mentored by co-founders Henry Rogers and Warren Cowan, who eventually brought him onto the accounts of such clients as Kirk Douglas and Chuck Connors. Bloch also served as a spokesman for music acts including The Beach Boys, Diana Ross, The Bee Gees, The Carpenters, Trini Lopez, Julio Iglesias, Ricky Nelson and Johnny Ramone. He was named senior vp and eventually president of a new contemporary music division at Rogers & Cowan in February 1975. Survivors include his sister, Lois; nephew Douglas (and wife Dianne); nieces Andrea (Michael) and Victoria (Mark); and great-nieces and great-nephews Jason, Lexi, Chase, Courtney, Jake and Alyssa.