In recent years, L.A. entertainment and sports mogul Casey Wasserman has carved out a distinct identity, establishing himself as a formidable power player. No longer merely recognized as the grandson of the late Hollywood titan Lew Wasserman, former MCA/Universal head and political influencer, Casey has made his own mark.
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| Casey Wasserman and Jenny Chandler at The Hollywood Reporter's 2022 Power 100 Women in Entertainment event. MICHAEL KOVAC/THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER VIA GETTY IMAGES |
With strategic industry acquisitions like Paradigm’s music business and Brillstein Partners management firm, he also spearheaded L.A.’s victorious bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics and now heads the organizing committee for the event.
However, at his 50th birthday celebration on June 28, Wasserman underscored his familial connection. He adopted the Wasserman surname as an adult, a nod to his maternal grandfather Lew.
Guests at Casey Wasserman's 50th birthday bash were treated to a nostalgic recreation of Nate ’n Al’s, the iconic deli where he and his grandfather Lew Wasserman used to bond on weekends. This setup featured a sign reading “Lew ’n Casey” in the deli’s classic retro orange typography, positioned above a wall adorned with snapshots of the duo. In front of a vintage-style booth, the beloved Nate ’n Al’s waitress Gloria Leon, who fondly remembers serving the Wassermans, came out of retirement to pour coffee in her throwback uniform, adding an authentic touch to the tableau vivant.
Hollywood event planner Ben Bourgeois, known for recreating New York City restaurant Rao’s for a LACMA fundraiser at Steve Tisch’s Beverly Hills home, masterminded the installation. Despite the elaborate celebration, Wasserman, through a representative, chose not to comment on the event.
The celebration, hosted at the expansive Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, was an event to remember with rockers Imagine Dragons providing live entertainment and gourmet catering from Nobu and Jon & Vinny’s. However, some attendees and observers noted the irony of the venue choice, given Casey Wasserman’s recent personal life events.
The location sparked jokes referencing his separation from Laura Ziffren Wasserman, the daughter of renowned Hollywood attorney Ken Ziffren, following his relationship with Jenny Chandler, a former flight attendant on his private jet who now identifies as a visual artist.
Chandler, who recently hosted a luncheon at Art Basel in Miami, attended the party, which saw a mix of notable figures from sports, entertainment, and politics. Guests included sports luminaries like Bob Kraft and Lance Armstrong, entertainment moguls Bob Iger and Jim Gianopulos, and prominent Democratic political figures such as Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, and Doug Emhoff, underscoring Wasserman's influence as a major party donor.
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