Few figures shine as brightly as Don Buchwald ’59. A beloved talent agent known for his trademark fedora and wide smile, Don had a unique morning ritual: Each day, he would settle down with his distinctive, blue-lined yellow pad and consider how he could enrich the lives of others. Whether it was a high-profile client or a promising Brooklyn College student, Buchwald’s heart always leaned toward helping those around him, as he was a staunch believer in enriching lives through philanthropy. Buchwald speaking at the Don Buchwald Theater opening. Born in Brooklyn in 1936, Donald Henry Buchwald was the youngest of five. His father owned a textile business, while his mother taught high school history. Buchwald often claimed that, unlike his academically motivated siblings, he was a “street kid” who enjoyed hanging out with friends. Nonetheless, he graduated from Lafayette High School and, at just 16, enrolled at Brooklyn College. Uncertain at first about what major to pursue, he took a break from college to enlist in the Army, serving in Korea and Japan. He returned home with what he called “a thin veneer of sophistication,” shedding a thick Brooklyn accent that one teacher had described as the worst (or best) he’d ever heard. After restarting college, he was encouraged by the head of the Theater Department to become a theater major and performed in the Gershwin Theater. This venue’s successor became the Don Buchwald Theater, named in his honor. Since its opening, the Don Buchwald Theater has welcomed more than 15,000 visitors, hosting nearly 50 events every year, ranging from theatrical productions to conservatory concerts, and is a vital space for creativity and collaboration on campus. Don Buchwald After earning his degree at Brooklyn College, Buchwald explored various roles in the industry, including acting and theater management. He even worked as a travel agent, honing valuable sales skills, which came in handy when, in 1964, he co-founded a talent agency with fellow alum Monty Silver ’57. Soon after, he married his wife of 59 years, Maggie, with whom he raised two daughters, Julia and Laura. As a talent agent, Buchwald discovered his true calling. Quickly making a name for himself, he began representing a roster of voice-over artists and actors. In 1977, he opened Don Buchwald & Associates (now Buchwald), representing iconic stars like Kathleen Turner, Djimon Hounsou, and Howard Stern. His record-breaking $500 million deal for Stern with Sirius/XM radio earned him the nickname “superagent.” Buchwald’s approach to negotiation was guided by a desire to leave the table “better friends” than when he arrived. In tandem with guiding his clients’ careers, Buchwald became one of Brooklyn College’s most generous supporters. As a member of the Brooklyn College Foundation Board of Trustees, he created internships for theater students and undergraduates studying television and radio. Notably, his contributions to the Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema provided third-year graduate students with $10,000 grants for their thesis films. The money went to a team of students—writers, directors, cinematographers, composers, and editors—to complete their films. His gifts also funded Feirstein’s most recent student film festival, held at the Metrograph Theater in Brooklyn. Buchwald’s philanthropic efforts were celebrated in 2016 at the Best of Brooklyn gala in the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. This annual event, sponsored by the Brooklyn College Foundation, highlights the accomplishments of alumni, students, and faculty while raising essential funds for students’ more urgent needs. During the gala, award-winning avant-garde director Sarah Benson ’04 M.F.A. shared how a Buchwald-funded fellowship allowed her to intern at her dream theater, Soho Repertory, where she later became artistic director. Several other recipients of his support followed suit, sharing stories of career transformations, all thanks to Buchwald’s generosity. As he received a crystal statuette etched with Coney Island’s famed Parachute Jump, Buchwald addressed an overflowing crowd, emphasizing the collective responsibility of those who have achieved success. “It’s our job, those of us who have been lucky enough to have succeeded, to pass the torch along to the younger generation—to do what we can to help them succeed,” he said. But his lifetime achievements didn’t stop there. The super alum later established two scholarships for graduate majors in cinema arts, a student film fund, and a theater maintenance fund. Additionally, with his friend, fellow board member, and philanthropist Murray Koppelman ’57, Buchwald funded the business plan competition at the Koppelman School of Business, which engages students in all facets of entrepreneurship. As one of his final contributions to the college and his legacy, Buchwald created a fellowship for poets in the Creative Writing, M.F.A. program in the name of his sister Greta Buchwald Hogan ’51, who passed away in November of 2023. Don Buchwald passed away on July 22, 2024, surrounded by family. His incredible journey reflects a life filled with generosity and a commitment to uplifting others, not the least of whom are the many future generations of Brooklyn College students.
