Photo: Dell Publishing , 1960. Photographer not credited — Public domainSource
Richard Clayton
- June 12, 1915
- September 29, 2008
- 93 years
- heart failure
About Richard Clayton
Richard Clayton, 93, American actor and talent agent (Burt Reynolds, James Dean), heart failure.
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Full Biography
|Richard "Dick" Clayton (June 12, 1915 – September 29, 2008) was an American actor who became a talent agent. He represented such high-profile talent as Jane Fonda, James Dean, Tab Hunter and Burt Reynolds during his career as an agent.
Early life
Clayton was born in Montclair, New Jersey. He began his career in New York City, where he worked as an actor and model.
Film career
In an item reported from Hollywood, The New York Times noted that Warner Bros. had placed "Richard Clayton of the New York Stage" under contract, one of several actors engaged for its forthcoming production of what was described as The Life of Knute Rockne.
He appeared in several of the studio's films under his contract with the studio, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1939, Knute Rockne, All American in 1940 and the 1941 pictures A Very Young Lady and High Sierra. Most of his roles were small and his Hollywood acting career never really took off, but he had bigger parts in some smaller productions like Miss Polly, where he had a romantic role.
Clayton served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart for his wounds. He met and befriended actor James Dean following his return from the war. Clayton and Dean appeared together in the 1951 film, Sailor Beware.
Career as an agent
Clayton moved from full-time acting to repping when he took a position at the Famous Artists Agency. As an agent, Clayton represented his friend, James Dean, as well as Tab Hunter, Farrah Fawcett, Jane Fonda, Harrison Ford, Nick Nolte, Richard Chamberlain, Jan-Michael Vincent,Tuesday Weld, and Angie Dickinson. He continued to work as a full-time talent agent for several decades. He later became personal manager to actor Burt Reynolds. Clayton ultimately managed Reynolds' career for 22 years.
In the late 1950s, Clayton built a small house in Palm Desert, California, with close friend and client Tab Hunter. Clayton died from congestive heart failure on September 29, 2008, in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Clayton_(actor)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 28, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Richard Clayton's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Richard Clayton born?
- A.Palm Desert
- B.New York City
- C.Los Angeles
- D.Montclaircorrect
Richard Clayton was born in Montclair, New Jersey.
Source: Early life section
2.In which city did Richard Clayton begin his career as an actor and model?
- A.New York Citycorrect
- B.Hollywood
- C.Montclair
- D.Palm Desert
Richard Clayton began his career in New York City where he worked as an actor and model.
Source: Early life section
3.Which award did Richard Clayton receive for wounds sustained during his service in the U.S. Navy?
- A.Medal of Honor
- B.Bronze Star
- C.Purple Heartcorrect
- D.Silver Star
Richard Clayton served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart for his wounds.
Source: Film career section
4.Which film released in 1940 featured Richard Clayton under his Warner Bros. contract?
- A.The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- B.A Very Young Lady
- C.High Sierra
- D.Knute Rockne, All Americancorrect
Richard Clayton appeared in several studio films including Knute Rockne, All American in 1940.
Source: Film career section
5.For how many years did Richard Clayton manage the career of Burt Reynolds?
- A.15 years
- B.22 yearscorrect
- C.10 years
- D.30 years
Richard Clayton ultimately managed Burt Reynolds' career for 22 years.
Source: Career as an agent section
6.What was the cause of Richard Clayton's death in 2008?
- A.Heart attack
- B.Congestive heart failurecorrect
- C.Stroke
- D.Pneumonia
Richard Clayton died from congestive heart failure on September 29, 2008.
Source: Career as an agent section
7.At what age did Richard Clayton pass away?
- A.95
- B.91
- C.89
- D.93correct
Richard Clayton died in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
Source: Career as an agent section
8.In which film did Richard Clayton and James Dean appear together in 1951?
- A.A Very Young Lady
- B.Sailor Bewarecorrect
- C.Miss Polly
- D.High Sierra
Richard Clayton and James Dean appeared together in the 1951 film, Sailor Beware.
Source: Film career section
9.Which agency was Richard Clayton's first employer as a talent agent?
- A.Famous Artists Agencycorrect
- B.Hollywood Reps
- C.Warner Bros.
- D.Palm Desert Talent
Richard Clayton moved from full-time acting to repping when he took a position at the Famous Artists Agency.
Source: Career as an agent section
10.With which client did Richard Clayton build a small house in Palm Desert during the late 1950s?
- A.Tab Huntercorrect
- B.Nick Nolte
- C.Burt Reynolds
- D.James Dean
In the late 1950s, Richard Clayton built a small house in Palm Desert, California, with close friend and client Tab Hunter.
Source: Career as an agent section
11.Which of these films did Richard Clayton appear in during 1941?
- A.The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- B.High Sierracorrect
- C.Miss Polly
- D.Knute Rockne, All American
Richard Clayton appeared in the 1941 pictures A Very Young Lady and High Sierra.
Source: Film career section
12.On what date was Richard Clayton born?
- A.September 29, 1915
- B.June 12, 1915correct
- C.September 29, 1912
- D.June 12, 1912
Richard Clayton was born on June 12, 1915.
Source: Introduction
13.In which production did Richard Clayton play a romantic role?
- A.Sailor Beware
- B.A Very Young Lady
- C.High Sierra
- D.Miss Pollycorrect
Richard Clayton had bigger parts in some smaller productions like Miss Polly, where he had a romantic role.
Source: Film career section
14.What city was the location of Richard Clayton's death?
- A.Montclair
- B.New York City
- C.Palm Desert
- D.Los Angelescorrect
Richard Clayton died on September 29, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Source: Career as an agent section
15.What film production led Warner Bros. to place Richard Clayton under contract?
- A.Sailor Beware
- B.The Life of Knute Rocknecorrect
- C.The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- D.A Very Young Lady
Warner Bros. had placed Richard Clayton under contract for its forthcoming production of The Life of Knute Rockne.
Source: Film career section
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