NEW YORK, N.Y. — A new book by a celebrity biographer finally tells the story of Celebrity Gangster Mickey Cohen, the boxer, bodyguard, blackmailer, pimp, bookie czar, gambler, haberdasher, restaurateur, racketeer, thief, and Robin Hoodlum to the poor and dispossessed. “Hollywood’s Celebrity Gangster, The Incredible Life and Times of Mickey Cohen” (ISBN: 1-929631-65-0), by Brad Lewis, examines the mixed morality life of the Los Angeles-based mobster who reigned from the 1930s until his death in 1976.
Cohen knew everyone-from underworld bosses to politicians, Marilyn Monroe to Frank Sinatra, and Richard Nixon to Reverend Billy Graham.
“I have killed no man in the first place that didn’t deserve killing…I had no alternative. It was either my life or their life” — Mickey Cohen.
“Mickey Cohen would have objected to this book’s publication,” said the author, Brad Lewis. “His blackmail targets included Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner, and department store heir Alfred Bloomingdale. The most social of any mobster in history, Mickey bridged the gap between Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Washington.”
“Mickey had the ear of many powerful people, including William Randolph Hearst, Richard Nixon, Reverend Billy Graham, and Washington Post columnist Drew Pearson. Enemies like Robert Kennedy were relentless in trying to topple Mickey.”
Some of the facts featured in “Hollywood’s Celebrity Gangster” include:
- * Frank Sinatra’s lifelong relationship to Mickey Cohen. He even asked Mickey above his romantic problems with Ava Gardner.
* How Richard Nixon ran for his first House seat with Mickey Cohen’s help and money. And then the Senate!
* The true story of how Meyer Lansky sent Mickey to watch Bugsy Siegel as they began their interests in Las Vegas.
* Mickey’s role in finding kidnapped Patty Hearst for her father “Randy”.
* Playboy Johnny Stompanato’s murder at Lana Turner’s house.
* Lyndon Johnson’s broken promise to parole Mickey.
* Mickey’s extortion schemes that mimic the charges against today’s Hollywood sleuth-to-the-stars Anthony Pellicano.
“I found ‘Celebrity Gangster’ intense, dramatic, a real page turner,” said Irwin Winkler, Producer of Goodfellas.
Brad Lewis is a novelist, biographer, playwright and former actor. As an oral surgeon, he practiced in both New York and Beverly Hills. His offices treated numerous celebrities including Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Willie Mays, Diane Keaton, Hugh Downs, Henry Mancini and Henry Kissinger. Lewis is co-author of “My Father, Uncle Miltie,” the bestselling biography of fabled comedian Milton Berle.
“Hollywood’s Celebrity Gangster” is currently available for purchase at all online booksellers including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and at local bookstores. For more information visit www.BradleyLewis.com.
Brad Lewis will be signing books and making scheduled appearances in New York June 1 – June 7.
Book Summary:
Title: Hollywood’s Celebrity Gangster The Incredible Life and Times of Mickey Cohen
by Brad Lewis
425 pages, 30 halftones
Trade paper $22.00
Publication date: May 28, 2007
ISBN: 1-929631-65-0, Enigma Books
U.K. Distribution by Greenhill Books, London.
U.S. and Canadian distribution by Consortium.
[tags]Enigma Books, Hollywood Celebrity Gangster, Mickey Cohen biography, biographer Brad Lewis, Robin Hoodlum, actor Bradley Lewis[/tags]
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