Glenn Rose, 89; Hollywood publicist represented stars

Glenn Rose, 89, a publicist and manager who represented some of the leading names in entertainment in a career stretching back to Hollywood’s Golden Age, died Wednesday of heart failure at his home in West Hollywood, according to his friend and fellow publicist Warren Cowan.

A native of Chicago, Rose began his career at 17 as a contract writer on local radio programs. His break came when he wrote a song for Milton Berle and was signed to write jokes for the comedian. He soon moved to Los Angeles and entered the public relations field with Alan Gordon and Associates. He became a partner in Gordon’s firm before leaving to start his own public relations company.

According to Cowan, Rose represented a number of A-list celebrities, including Ella Fitzgerald, Lana Turner, Sean Connery, Judy Garland, Maurice Chevalier, Mae West and Edward G. Robinson. As a personal manager, he represented dancer Donald O’Connor, actress Barbara Rush and comedian Eve Arden.

Rose represented Turner through the period after the death of her hoodlum boyfriend Johnny Stompanato, who was stabbed by Turner’s daughter Cheryl Crane, who said she was defending her mother from his assault.