Yesterday I heard from a journo pally who’s seen all ten episodes of The Offer, the making-of-The Godfather miniseries that begins streaming on 4.28.
“The Offer obviously has a huge ensemble cast,” I said, “but who, if anyone, delivers the stand-put performance?”
Journo pally was unequivocal — the performance that you’ll remember is Juno Temple‘s as the real-life agent and manager Bettye McCartt, who worked as an assistant to producer Albert Ruddy (Miles Teller).
McCartt, he said, is the touchstone figure — the neutral observer who supplies sensible commentary about the various egoistic goings-on.
An Oklahoma native who moved to Los Angeles in the early 60s, McCartt began as a publicist for 20th Century Fox. She was in her early 40s during the period of The Godfather and The Longest Yard (’74), which Ruddy also produced.
From 8.19.13 THR obit: “As owner of Agency for Artists and as a partner in the McCartt, Oreck & Barrett Talent Agency, her many clients also included actors Maureen O’Hara, Anthony Quinn, Wilford Brimley, George Clooney, Billy D. Williams and Brian Austin Green; authors Louis L’Amour and Henry Miller; and TV director Tony Wharmby (JAG, NCIS).
“McCartt started working with Tom Selleck as both his agent and manager in 1975. When the actor signed with CAA in 2008, she continued as his manager until her death [in August 2013].”