Gene Schwam, Hollywood publicist to Elvis Presley, dies at 96

Schwam co-founded the Hanson and Schwam agency with Adeline Hanson in 1955, and he died Friday in Los Angeles after a brief illness.

On air: Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock on Weekend Edition
Published 2:01 PM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Variety: “Gene Schwam, Veteran Hollywood Publicist to Elvis Presley, Julie Andrews and More, Dies at 96”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2:01 PM ET on Weekend Edition, by Chip Darnell and Vera Bullock.
Topics: Andrews, Hollywood.
BBN covered this story before: Graham, Andrews face off as GOP jitters grow in South Carolina (October 12).

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VarietyGene Schwam, Veteran Hollywood Publicist to Elvis Presley, Julie Andrews and More, Dies at 96

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGene Schwam, the Hollywood publicist who represented Elvis Presley, Julie Andrews, Blake Edwards, Barbara Eden and Lenny Bruce, died Friday in Los Angeles after a brief illness.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorHe was ninety-six.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorHe co-founded Hanson and Schwam Public Relations in nineteen fifty-five, and that agency endured for decades.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThat is a remarkable career in a very hard business.