Billionaire Kerkorian had big, charitable heart
When Kirk Kerkorian was a teenager, he climbed over a fence at the MGM Studios in Culver City, Calif., and got shooed away by security.
He and his brother, Nish, were looking for work during the Great Depression.
Years later, when they returned, Kirk, who had dropped out of school in the eighth grade, owned the legendary studio.
That’s one of his family’s favorite stories.
Kerkorian, a legendary Las Vegas casino developer, died Monday at the age of 98 after a legendary career.
He was media shy and shunned the spotlight.
The millions of dollars he gave away usually came with strings attached: his name was not to be mentioned. An exception was when he donated $18 million to Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children in 2011.
When the MGM hotel fire in 1980 left thousands without jobs, including Agassi’s dad, Kerkorian’s support kept the family going.
When Agassi’s father needed heart surgery in 1995, Kerkorian quietly picked up the tab for the medical bills.
Here are some other stories pieced together this week:
■ Kerkorian, the son of poor Armenian immigrants, never flaunted his billionaire status. He was as unpretentious as they come. For years, he drove a Jeep for before moving up to a Ford Taurus. His neighbors at Las Vegas Country Club recall seeing a big dent in the Taurus, for years.
■ Star chef Julian Serrano got a phone call at home in March 2000 from Kerkorian the day Steve Wynn sold his Mirage Resorts, including Bellagio, to Kerkorian’s MGM Grand, Inc., for $6.4 billion. “He said he wanted me to stay at (Picasso),” said Serrano. When Kerkorian dined at Serrano’s Bellagio restaurant, he ordered filet mignon and salad and was known as a $200 tipper.
■ Kerkorian gave illusionists Siegfried and Roy the opportunity to star in a new hotel when they performed in “Hallelujah Hollywood” when Kerkorian opened the original MGM Grand (now Bally’s) in 1973. “We made him proud for over six years,” the duo said in a release. “One night he told us, ‘Boys, it’s easy when you have three magical letters behind you — MGM. You just keep polishing them so it’s a success. To be the best, surround yourself with the best.’ ”
■ Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson began his induction speech at the Nevada Hall of Fame on Friday by saying he had lost a great friend and added Kerkorian helped make Las Vegas what it is today.
■ “He loved people, he loved boxing and he left the world a lot better than he found it.” — Gene Kilroy, who worked with Kerkorian from 1965 to 1968 as director of marketing for the MGM movie company before it moved from New York City to Los Angeles. Kilroy left to become Muhammad Ali’s business manager and help Ali build his training camp near Deer Lake, Pa.
R.I.P. LARRY HART
Multiple Grammy winner Larry Hart of the musical Hart family was found dead Friday in his condo at Regency Towers inside Las Vegas Country Club.
The cause of death was not immediately released.
His longtime manager and producer, Susan Joseph, said Hart had dedicated himself to rebuilding the family mansion, Hartland, to its former glory and in his mother’s name.
“I’m justed devastated,” said Joseph.
“He had everything going. We were working on a reality show called ‘The Harts of Las Vegas.’ We were putting together a gospel lunch and re-launching ‘Sisterella,’ ” she said. Hart won a Grammy for his gospel music.
Loosely based on “Cinderella,” “Sisterella” became the only musical project ever financed, executive produced and presented by Michael Jackson that was not a project of his creation.
It was developed as a Broadway show and received raves in Europe.
“He was doing a gospel album called ‘Broken Wings of a Dove,’ ” Joseph said.
Hart wrote music for Engelbert Humperdinck.
SIGHTINGS
Justin Bieber, in town for the Electric Daisy Carnival, was spotted taking a selfie Saturday with “Orange is the New Black” breakout star Ruby Rose, at Encore Beach Club (Wynn) on Saturday. She’s become an Internet sensation due to her resemblance to Bieber. Also there: Ne-Yo, chatting with Bieber. … Correction: Former Elvis producer Steve Binder’s last name was misspelled in Friday’s column.
THE PUNCH LINE
“Trump’s people deny these allegations (that he hired actors to hold up signs and cheer for him during his announcement that he was running for president). But the casting agency that supposedly sent out the job listing refused to comment. It’s the political equivalent of paying kids to come to your birthday party.” — Jimmy Kimmel
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter.
