Chief of Staff's Bro Is Hollywood Super Agent

Rahm Emanuel's high-flying sib just got better connected

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 7, 2008 2:08 AM CST

(Newser) – The president-elect's new chief of staff has a pair of high-flying brothers, the Los Angeles Times reports. Rahm Emanuel's younger brother, Ari, is a founding partner of top Hollywood talent agency Endeavor while older brother, Ezekiel, is a leading bioethicist. Ari, who shares Ramm's reputation for take-no-prisoners power plays, inspired the abrasive Ari Gold character in HBO's Entourage.

Ari, who personally represents stars such as Larry David and Mark Wahlberg, has long been active in Hollywood's Democratic circles. He was already known as one of Tinseltown's best-connected brokers, and those connections just got a whole lot better. "The Emanuels are a close-knit family," said one celebrity publicist. "And now you have two brothers at the apex of two of the most powerful industries in the world."

[Images (6)]

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Super agent Ari Emanuel, left, poses with film director Larry Charles. (Getty Images)

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, center, walks down an alley with a member of his staff as he leaves his local congressional office for the night yesterday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Harvey Weinstein speaks with Ari Emanuel during the premiere of Fahrenheit 9/11 at the Uptown Theater June 23, 2004 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)

Rep. Rahm Emanuel D-Ill., center, talks on his cell phone before leaving his local congressional office for the night, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008 in Chicago. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

In this June 6, 2008, file photo Rep. Rahm Emanuel huddles with then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

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It's a great plot twist of Endeavor. There has always been informal links between Hollywood and Washington. People here produce political events and secure stars. This takes it to a whole new level. It's all about access. - Celebrity publicist Howard Bragman

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Chief of Staff's Bro Is Hollywood Super Agent