departures

Richard Abate Flees Endeavor After William Morris Merger

Richard Abate, much-vaunted and much-maligned literary agent of the post–Andrew Wylie synergy generation, braved a lawsuit from ICM two years ago so he could move himself and his clients over to Endeavor, where he put a packagey, West Coast spin on his seven-figure deals. Now he’s bolting as a result of Endeavor’s merger with William Morris, which already has an alpha lit figure in place — Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, soon to be head of the merged company’s literary division.

Endeavor was where Abate spread his dark wings. Thanks to his ministrations, Dale Peck teamed up with Heroes creator Tim Kring to write three supernatural thrillers for a million a pop. Another trilogy — this one about vampires — fetched the same amount for auteur turned author Guillermo Del Toro (the one that comes out in June). He also got $6 million for Tina Fey. Which is all to say — and this is no knock on Walsh or her agenting partner, Suzanne Gluck — that his lucky clients will likely stay by his side, just as they did when he jumped ICM’s ship.

Abate Out at Endeavor as Merger with William Morris Is Finalized [NYO]

Richard Abate Flees Endeavor After William Morris Merger