Totally immersed in Malibu and diligently dedicated to helping ensure locals have plenty of eclectic artistic and cultural experiences and a safe community, E. Barry Haldeman spent some of his final days, as he always has, serving his community. His last public act as chairman of the Malibu Arts Commission was on Sept. 15, when he led a lively question-and-answer session with Jim “Taz” Evans, whose art is exhibited at City Hall Gallery.

Haldeman left a legacy of loving his community and advocating for Malibu’s cityhood, protecting its precious environment and augmenting its arts as well as a legendary career as a respected entertainment lawyer.

How it all began

Born in 1944, Haldeman grew up in Valley Village, then known as North Hollywood. He attended Notre Dame High School in the San Fernando Valley. 

In a 2013 interview with the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, Haldeman discussed being immersed in the entertainment industry as a child. “I grew up in the entertainment business,” he said. “My father was a production manager who became a TV series producer, my brother and nieces are actors, and my aunt was a script supervisor for 30 years at Fox.” 

Elaborating, he said, “I worked as an extra growing up, in high school. I worked as a messenger/mail person for a studio and during summers while in college and part of law school. I worked in several departments in a studio in Florida, ending up working the set of a TV series as a production assistant. So, I always wanted to be in the business in some form; I knew that from an early age.” 

Haldeman attended UCLA, earning an undergraduate degree in political science, and he attended law school there. 

“Our plan was for both of us to get law degrees and start a law firm,” Tim Haldeman, Barry’s younger brother, shared. “However, when I saw how hard Barry studied for the bar exam, I decided that was a little too hard and that I’d just play an attorney on TV, which I ultimately did on the Divorce Court series.” 

Barry’s good friend and legal partner, Mark Stankevich, shared his insights about him. “I don’t think Barry had any enemies. He had friends everywhere he went,”  Stankevich said.  “Barry and I met in 1982 and we worked together at three firms. We practiced at Garey, Mason & Sloane in Santa Monica. When that firm broke up, Barry and I, along with two others from that firm, started a law firm, Haldeman & Peckerman, that we had for several years. Ultimately, we merged our firm with Greenberg, Glusker, Fields, Claman & Machtinger, a firm that still exists.”

From early in his career, Haldeman repped some industry titans, Stankevich noted. “When we practiced together at Gary, Mason & Sloane, we represented Gene Hackman, and the firm represented Marlon Brando,” Stankevich said. “After Norman Garey died, Gene Hackman came with us to the firm that Barry and I formed, and we represented high-profile clients, including James Cameron and Tom Cruise.”

Stankevich shared a fun memory, stating, “Back in the day when ‘Cheers’ was a popular show, we represented the Charles brothers, who were the creators of the show. One time, Barry and I went and sat at the bar at ‘Cheers’ as silent bar patrons.”

What fun!  

At Paramount Pictures’ Motion Picture Group, Haldeman ran Paramount’s legal department, negotiating major talent deals for the studio, and he oversaw dealmaking by executives in the studio’s business and legal affairs arms. 

“Barry told me lots of stories about his being head of the motion picture department at Paramount,” Tim said. “Although he didn’t ever name names specifically, I think one story was about ‘Mission Impossible II’ and its star, who wanted a particular contract deal point and Barry responded, ‘Okay, I’ll think about it.’ Over the weekend, Barry figured out it was smart to give the deal point to the star because Paramount would make all its value back in the theaters. So, he arranged a meeting with the head of production to give the deal point to the star. When Barry arrived at a meeting, his phone rang. He answered saying, ‘I thought you were going to hold all my calls?’ However, the call was not from his assistant. Rather, it was from the chairwoman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Sherry Lansing.” 

Such was the stuff of Barry’s career — dealing with high-profile management teams in the entertainment industry and with high-profile actors, directors, and producers. 

“My brother was a great negotiator!” Tim said. “I use a line if we had 10 chores to do as kids, I’d end up doing seven of them and owing him money so he could do the other three.” 

After serving at Paramount, Haldeman rejoined Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella to work alongside the famed entertainment lawyer, Bert Fields. At that firm, Haldeman represented actors, directors, writers, producers, and authors, including Gale Anne Hurd, Gene Hackman, Debra Hill, Sally Field, and John Carpenter, among others. He also represented the charity The Earth Communications Office, which developed environmentally related public service announcements.  

Barry served as of counsel at Greenberg Glusker for many years toward the end of his career. He only retired in 2024. 

“Dad just loved his work,” Haldeman’s daughter Jennifer said. “One of the reasons he went back to private practice was because he loved working with the creatives.” 

In the world of entertainment law, Haldeman was a superstar, known for his ability to negotiate strenuously and effectively while always remaining calm and collected, an attribute that Tim said his brother acquired from their father, Edward Haldeman, who was a production manager in the industry.  

In Malibu, Haldeman was known for the same laudable attributes … and many more.Malibu City Councilmember Doug Stewart summed up Haldeman’s service by saying, “Barry was a Malibu gentleman who was a monument of leadership — we can only aspire to be like him.” 

The Consummate Malibu advocate

“Dad’s real contribution to Malibu was when they wanted to put the sewer system in Malibu — that’s when we became a city — that was the only way to oppose a sewer system to avoid having so many hotels and the environmental harm of dumping sewage into the bay,” Jennifer said. “Dad led that charge. He rallied our entire community, and we had 30 buses with ‘Save our Coast!’ painted on them, that we drove downtown to the Board of Supervisors office. There was not enough room in the Chambers to hold all the protesters!”

Jennifer remembered, “I was the youngest person who had ever spoken at the Board of Supervisors. I spoke for the kids, telling the Supervisors, ‘Don’t mess with my backyard and animals!’” 

That experience made a lasting impact on Jennifer. “It was a huge moment! That’s how I first remember his advocacy. We won cityhood! It’s such a big thing that we don’t have sewers and the hotels,” she said. 

Totally immersed in ensuring that Malibu’s environment is safe, Haldeman also led the to battle against many efforts that residents deem antithetical to the quasi-rural nature of Malibu and its mission statement. 

“Anytime someone in Malibu found a problem that needed fixing, the first thing they would do is reach out to Barry,” Lloyd Ahearn said. “While others might be creating problems, he solved them. He contributed to cityhood enormously.”

Former Mayor Andy Stern stated, “Barry was a many-decades-long Malibu resident who gave tirelessly of his time to help make Malibu a better community for all of us.” Stern added, “He was instrumental in the successful fight to defeat a proposed liquid nitrogen gas terminal off the coast of Malibu and so many other important and worthy causes.” 

When the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors was considering approving open camping in the Santa Monica Mountains with no provision in the proposal for closing the campground during Red Flag Days and Santa Ana winds, Haldeman led the way opposing that effort, ultimately prevailing.

“Barry will be missed by people throughout Malibu and the legal community where he was a successful and respected entertainment attorney for decades.” Stern commented. 

Sparky Greene, a colleague and friend of Barry’s said, “Barry embodied a true generosity of spirit, high intellect, love of the law as art, and most importantly, he exemplified a true Malibu spirit!”

An avid supporter of the arts and environmental causes

In 1976, Haldeman helped found the UCLA Entertainment Symposium, a flagship event for the entertainment industry, bringing leading lawyers, executives, agents, manager and producers, together with students for candid discussions on subjects at the front of the industry. 

 “When Barry served as chair of the arts commission he set his personal opinions aside as the commission debated whether and where to build an arts center.” Hans Laetz said. “He did what chairmen do and helped facilitate discussion.”

For many in Malibu’s arts community, it is terribly hard to lose Haldeman. “Barry was among the first to join our Board of Directors when we founded Malibu Film Society in 2009.” said Scott Tallal, MFS Board President. 

“I was very fortunate to work with Barry on the Malibu Arts Commission for a number of years.” Fireball Tim Lawrence said. “He was always consistently positive, kind, and supportive in all projects.  But also a wealth of knowledge.  He will be missed for his wisdom, empathy, and always smiling inspiration.”

A family man above all else

Haldeman loved Maureen, his bride and friend of many years. He met Maureen when her family visited Florida from her native Canada and Barry’s father was co-producing episodes of “Flipper.” Theirs was a long-distance relationship for years, and ultimately, they married and delightedly raised their daughter, Jennifer. 

Haldeman is survived by Maureen, his daughter Jennifer, and his brother, Tim. He was predeceased by his parents, Edward and Frances (Brachetto) Haldeman, and a myriad of friends and colleagues.

The family asks that readers wishing to donate in his honor do so by contributing to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).