Skip Brittenham, Hollywood lawyer to the stars, dies at 83

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83-year-old Skip Brittenham, a well-known lawyer in Hollywood who represented stars like Harrison Ford, Henry Winkler, and Eddie Murphy, has passed away.

Brittenham died Thursday, said Ziffren Brittenham LLP, the firm he founded in 1978.

Our industry recognized Skip for his exceptional legal skills, but perhaps fewer were aware of his hidden kindness, his unique talent for finding laughter and potential even in difficult situations, and his steadfast conviction that the media and entertainment sector should prioritize serving people over being served.

The firm did not disclose the cause of death.

In the realm of entertainment, Brittenham was renowned as a shrewd negotiator who closed significant deals. Not only did he represent an illustrious roster of clients, but he also played pivotal roles in key industry events. For instance, he facilitated Pixar’s groundbreaking alliance with Disney, masterminded the separation of DreamWorks, and guided Disney through their acquisition of Miramax.

In 2005, Ford, who was once a client before gaining fame with “Star Wars,” expressed to The Times what most amused him about Skip. He said, “Skip usually takes on the role of everyone in a deal.” Furthermore, Ford added, “He does an excellent job for all parties… Every time I leave a negotiation, I’m left wondering, ‘Wow, how did he manage to pull that off?’

Entertainment & Arts

Entertainment lawyer Skip Brittenham represents clients from various positions. To his numerous admirers, he manages resources rather than complications.

In 2005, Ken Ziffren, one of the co-founders of their law firm alongside Brittenham, revealed to The Times that during their initial phase as partners, they unknowingly pursued the same potential client, the comedian Richard Pryor, simultaneously.

“Skip did not back down,” Ziffren said. “He got Pryor.”

As the eldest child of an Air Force fighter pilot, Harry M. Brittenham spent his childhood frequently relocating between military bases. Despite attending the Air Force Academy, a squash racket accident in 1963 cost him perfect vision necessary for pilot training, which was essential for his career path.

He spent four years negotiating contracts for the Air Force before enrolling in law school at UCLA.

In his personal time, Brittenham had an ardent love for fly-fishing that spanned over many years. He participated in and emerged victorious from numerous international fishing tournaments, and honed his skill on every continent except Antarctica.

Through his passion for fly-fishing and appreciation for nature, Brittenham found himself serving as a long-term board member for Conservation International – a prominent environmental group that eventually recognized his dedication by bestowing upon him the prestigious title of “Hero of Conservation.

As a self-professed aficionado of sci-fi, I ventured into the realm of graphic novels and penned “Anomaly” in 2012 – a tale that sparked my creative spirit and tapped into the nostalgia of my childhood admiration for Marvel and DC Comics. In an exclusive chat with The Times prior to its unveiling, I expressed my desire to demonstrate that there’s more to me than just being a negotiator.

Books

An entertainment attorney’s sci-fi heart

He shared that he prefers not to casually experiment, but instead dives deep into experiences and strives to create something distinctive and novel.

Despite being known for his tough legal skills, Brittenham was equally admired for his family-oriented lifestyle, regularly closing his workday at 5 p.m. to spend time with his spouse and kids.

Brittenham was wedded to the actress and scriptwriter Heather Thomas, and they shared three daughters named Kristina, Shauna, and India. Moreover, he leaves behind his brother Bud, as well as two loving sons-in-law Jesse Sisgold and Avi Reiter, along with four grandchildren.

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2025-07-21 21:31