Hollywood Publicist and LGBTQ Advocate Howard Bragman Dies at 66

Howard Bragman, a public relations giant who helped guide all-star clients grappling with a dilemma while becoming an expert in crisis PR and a key advocate for LGBTQ rights, succumbed to leukemia over the weekend. He was 66.

A source close to the family confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter, and it was also announced by his close friend John Duran on Twitter.

“My dear old friend for the last 30 years passed away tonight,” Duran’s tweet read. “RIP Howard Bragman. LBGT warrior. Gentle giant. Wicked humor. Love you eternally. See you on the other side.”

My dear old friend for the last 30 years passed away tonight. RIP Howard Bragman. LGBT warrior. Gentle giant. Wicked humor. Love you eternally. See you on the other side …… pic.twitter.com/LBj2GqZ9Em

— JohnDuran (@JohnDuran) February 12, 2023

If a Hollywood star found themselves in an unusual or reputation-damaging predicament, Bragman was on the call list to help. He most recently represented embattled talk show host Wendy Williams, but over the years, his clients included Monica Lewinsky, Cameron Diaz, Ricki Lake, Sharon Osbourne, and Chaz Bono.

Bragman was also known for helping closeted celebrities reveal their gender identity or sexual orientation at a time when being outed could destroy a career. Among those whom he assisted in revealing their truth was Family Ties star Meredith Baxter, who gave an interview after fearing tabloids would reveal photos of her and her partner. He was also called upon to help then-University of Missouri defensive players Michael Same with his decision to come out publicly ahead of the 2014 NFL Draft.

The publicist was fiercely loyal to his clients and respected (and slightly feared) by entertainment journalists.

In a statement on behalf of GLAAD, the organization’s president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis celebrated Bragman as an industry leader and honored his work in fostering LGBTQ visibility and representation.

“Throughout his long career, he worked with many LGBTQ notables to ensure their coming out stories were treated with dignity and created impact for the entire community,” she says. “His own visibility as an out executive, paired with a trademark humor and bold approach to public relations, made unforgettable marks on media, entertainment, and public relations industries.”

Howard Bragman was an industry leader who masterfully used the power of the press to create positive change and visibility for LGBTQ people. https://t.co/zVghgq945m

— Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) February 12, 2023

Bragman’s extensive experience in crisis situations became so well-known that he became a celebrity himself, often called upon in the media to offer his expertise about celebrities caught in the crossfire.

Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, Bragman graduated from the University of Michigan in 1978 before beginning his career in PR with Burson Marsteller in Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles, he co-founded the PR firm Bragman Nyman Cafarelli in 1989, which was acquired by Weber Shandwick Worldwide in 2001, merging it with PMK to become PMK-BNC. He went on to launch the PR firm Fifteen Minutes and later started La Brea Media.

Bragman was awarded for his work through his career as an activist for those with HIV/AIDS, LGBTQ civil rights, and Jewish causes, and he established the Howard Bragman Coming Out Fund with the University of Michigan, a $1 million endowment, in 2021.