Seinfeld producer Howard West dies at 84 after 60 years in the entertainment business where he worked with Neil Diamond and Glen Campbell 

By Heidi Parker For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:56 EST, 6 December 2015 | Updated: 19:01 EST, 6 December 2015

Howard West has died at the age of 84, according to Deadline.

The former agent was one of the producers of the popular Seinfeld series, which aired from 1989 to 1998 and won multiple Emmys. His company Shapiro/West is currently working with Jerry Seinfeld on the web series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

Early in West's career he worked with Neil Diamond, Glen Campbell, Ruth Buzzi, Paul Lynde and Marty Feldman.

Sad farewell: Seinfeld producer Howard West has died at the age of 84, according to Deadline; here he is seen in 2004

Sad farewell: Seinfeld producer Howard West has died at the age of 84, according to Deadline; here he is seen in 2004

 West worked with fellow Seinfeld producer George Shapiro for many decades.

They met in grammar school and then went on to work together for 41 years at personal management/production company Shapiro/West.

'I first met Howie in the schoolyard of Public School 80 in the Bronx when we were eight years old,' Shapiro said.

Old collaborators: His company Shapiro/West is currently working with Jerry Seinfeld on the web series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee; here Jerry is seen with wife Jessica in November

Old collaborators: His company Shapiro/West is currently working with Jerry Seinfeld on the web series Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee; here Jerry is seen with wife Jessica in November

'Howie was the new kid at school as he just moved from another Bronx neighborhood. Howie was alone in the schoolyard, sitting on a step near one of the school entrances. I invited him to join me and my friends to play basketball, stickball, curb ball, punchball, and touch football.

'It was love at first sight, and we became best friends since that day.

'We were partners in buying comic books, we bought our first car together, worked as busboys, and lifeguards/stagehands at the Tamiment summer resort in the Pocono Mountains, where we worked with writers Neil and Danny Simon, choreographer Herb Ross, comedian Dick Shawn, and singer Barbara Cook.

Big time: The former agent was one of the producers of the popular Seinfeld series, which aired from 1989 to 1998 and won multiple Emmys; here the cast is seen during season nine

Big time: The former agent was one of the producers of the popular Seinfeld series, which aired from 1989 to 1998 and won multiple Emmys; here the cast is seen during season nine

Pals: West and Shapiro then worked together in the William Morris Agency mail room

Pals: West and Shapiro then worked together in the William Morris Agency mail room

'It was a great beginning for our showbiz career.' 

West graduated from Long Island University. He then served in the Army.

West and Shapiro then worked together in the William Morris Agency mail room.

That's when West took on clients such as Diamond and Campbell as well as Anne Murray, Jerry Reed and Greg Garrison (who produced/directed The Dean Martin Show and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast).

He also packaged The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour and The Bobby Darin Show.

One of his biggest clients was Feldman of The Last Remake of Beau Geste fame.  

He later worked with Bill Lawrence, the man behind Spin City, Scrubs and Cougar Town. 

With the gang: Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment's Marshall Forester, West, George Shapiro and Marc Kashba in 2004

With the gang: Columbia Tri-Star Home Entertainment's Marshall Forester, West, George Shapiro and Marc Kashba in 2004

West had a cameo in Jim Carrey's Man On the Moon as an executive because it was about his client Andy Kaufman. 

West and Shapiro also produced The Bronx Boys for HBO, and The Bronx Boys Still Playing at 80 for PBS.

West is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marlene, and his two children Dayna and Todd, granddaughter Olivia.

Classic: Jerry and Michael Richards during the episode The Smelly Car

Classic: Jerry and Michael Richards during the episode The Smelly Car

 

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