Iris Burton
Iris Burton (September 4, 1930 – April 5, 2008) was an American talent agent and dancer, who discovered and represented many famous child actors during her career.
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[edit] Personal life and early career
Burton was born as Iris Burstein in Manhattan, New York City in 1930, and made a career as a child dancer, later appearing in several Broadway musicals under the name Iris Burton. In the early 1950s, she moved to Hollywood, appearing as a dancer in several films such as Top Banana (1954) and The Ten Commandments (1956).[1]
Tony Award-winning actor Barry Miller (Saturday Night Fever, Fame) was Burton's son from her brief marriage to actor/director Sidney Miller.[1]
[edit] Later career
Burton was well-known for discovering the Phoenix brothers (River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix, and their sisters Rain, Liberty and Summer) when she noticed them busking on a Hollywood street corner. Other discoveries included Kirsten Dunst and Henry Thomas, with her clients including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Drew Barrymore, Tori Spelling, Fred Savage, Jerry O'Connell, Kirk Cameron, Candace Cameron, Adam Rich, and Josh Hartnett.[1][2]
[edit] Death
Iris Burton died on April 5, 2008, aged 77, from pneumonia and complications of Alzheimer's disease in Woodland Hills, California.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Obituary: Iris Burton, Hollywood agent, The Age, April 17, 2008.
- ^ Garrett, Dianne, Casting agent Iris Burton dies at 77, Variety (dead link)
