Jake Bloom, Legendary Hollywood Attorney, Dies at 81

Jake Bloom, the larger-than-life Hollywood attorney who negotiated rich deals for clients including Nicolas Cage, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Depp, died Thursday in Sun Valley, Idaho, his wife Ruth confirmed. He was 81.

Jake Bloom, the larger-than-life Hollywood attorney who negotiated rich deals for clients including Nicolas Cage, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Depp, died Thursday in Sun Valley, Idaho, his wife Ruth confirmed. He was 81.

In 2019, Bloom retired along with his partner Alan Hergott while the firm was still in the midst of litigation with former client Depp.

Bloom Hergott was founded in 1970, with a stable of high-profile clients that also included directors Brad Bird, Martin Scorsese and Rob Cohen, producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Lorenzo di Bonaventura, and actor Jason Statham.

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Over the years, he worked with Hollywood’s top names thanks to close relationships with CAA and ICM. Bloom famously negotiated Depp’s first deal to star in Disney’s live-action “Pirates of the Caribbean” film, which held back merchandising and theme park rights, resulting in a big payoff for Depp and Bruckheimer.

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In 2001, Bloom secured a massive $29.25 million contract for Schwarzenegger to star in “Terminator 3.” The landmark contract also included private jets, a gym trailer, round the clock limousines and bodyguards.

Later, however, Depp filed a lawsuit against Bloom Hergott. Depp accused the firm of mishandling matters including his divorce from Amber Heard, and alleged that the firm improperly took millions of dollars in fees. A judge ruled in Depp’s favor. In October 2019, the firm agreed to an “eight-figure” settlement with Depp.

Bloom was also noted art collector and was a founding member of the L.A. Museum of Contemporary Art and the Venice Art Walk.

Born in Brooklyn, Bloom graduated from Cornell Law School before joining the California Bar and partnering with Hergott and Tom Pollack.

He is survived by his wife Ruth, two children and four grandchildren.

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