Larry A. Thompson

Larry A. Thompson (born August 1, 1944) is an American film producer, manager, lawyer, author, and motivational speaker. Long known for his work in Hollywood, he has twice been a Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives.

Thompson was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, to Angelo and Anne (maiden name, Tuminello) Thompson. He graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1968.

Thompson started his entertainment-industry career as in-house counsel for Capitol Records. He was the youngest lawyer working for the label and negotiated separate contracts for each of the Beatles when the group broke up. By the 1970s, he was a founding partner in the entertainment law firm of Thompson, Shankman, Bond and Moss. For five years, he packaged movie and television projects and represented the careers of many prominent actors and performers. He also orchestrated the $300-million-dollar merger of Harrah's and Holiday Inn.

When the law partnership was dissolved, Thompson created the Larry A. Thompson Organization, a company devoted to film production and the personal management of talent.

Thompson and fellow lawyers Harry E. Sloan and Larry Kuppin subsequently purchased New World Pictures from Roger Corman for $16.5 million and immediately took the company public. He sold his New World equity position in 1983 and refocused his attention to independent film production and talent management. He received the Vision Award in 1993.

Thompson and his company have managed over 200 artists including Drew Barrymore, Jason Bateman, Justine Bateman, Linda Blair, Robert Blake, Bruce Boxleitner, Delta Burke, Cindy Crawford, William Devane, Donna Dixon, Shannen Doherty, Linda Evans, Steve Guttenberg, Merle Haggard, Scott Hamilton, Mariska Hargitay, David Hasselhoff, Iman, Sally Kellerman, Donna Mills, Tatum O'Neal, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Melissa Rivers, William Shatner, Sonny & Cher, Tori Spelling, Alan Thicke, Cicely Tyson, and Barry White.

Thompson's productions include:

Thompson is also a book packager. He has developed books with Joan Rivers, including a series of murder mystery novels titled The Red Carpet Murder Mysteries,[ 19] [ 20]

He is also a motivational speaker. [ 21]

Thompson ran for the United States Congress in California's 32nd congressional district.[ 22] [ 23] [ 24] as a Republican. He was unanimously endorsed by the California Republican Party[ 25] and the Los Angeles County Republican Party.[ 26] [ 27] Thompson had also been endorsed by: the Ventura County Republican Party,[ 28] the American Independent Party,[ 29] California College Republicans,[ 30] Los Angeles County Young Republicans,[ 31] and California Young Republicans,[ 32] as well as by Brock Pierce, Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] and Perianne Boring, Founder & CEO of the Chamber of Digital Commerce.[ 36] [ 37] The primary election was on March 5, 2024. Thompson advanced to the general election on November 5, 2024; he lost the general election to incumbent Democrat Brad Sherman, who won with 66.2% of the vote.[ 38] As reported by Ballotpedia.org, Thompson received 108,711 votes in the 2024 General Election in his bid for Congress, which is the most votes ever received by any candidate running against Brad Sherman in his 28 years in office.[ 39]

Thompson ran for Congress in California's 37th congressional district as an independent in 2020.[ 40] [ 41] [ 42] [ 43]

As of early 2013, Thompson, his wife Kelly, their daughter Taylor, and son Trevor live in Beverly Hills, California.[ 44] Thompson and his wife, Kelly, divorced in 2025.

As of 2014, Thompson serves on the Advisory Boards of Paulist Productions,[ 63] The Delta Blues Museum, and Good News Communications.[ 64]