John D. Kimble Dies; Longtime Talent Agent Was 79

John D. Kimble, a longtime talent agent who worked for the William Morris Agency and helped launch Triad Artists in the mid-1980s, died Nov. 10 in Dallas, Texas where he retired in 2022 to be close to family. He was 79.

His death was confirmed by former CBS Entertainment Chairman Nina Tassler, who worked for Kimble at Triad.

Born in Kingsville, Texas, Kimble graduated from the University of Texas in El Paso with dreams of becoming an actor. But he made the critical career decision to represent thespians, instead.

He began working with Joan Scott at Writers and Artists before setting up his own shingle in July of 1977.  A year later, he and agent Gene Parseghian merged their respective companies to create Kimble/Parseghian in the Fisk Building on 57th Street in New York City. Their early client roster included William Hurt, Pamela Reed, Kevin Bacon, Griffin Dune, Martin Short and Andrea Martin.

The duo opened an office in Los Angeles, where they ultimately teamed with Arnold Rifkin, Nicole David and Jeffrey Hunter to create DHKPR. The agency’s success would led to another merger with the likes of Literary Agency and Adams, Ray & Rosenberg to form Triad Artists in 1984.

As a partner at Triad, Kimble’s clients included Clooney, Matthew Perry, Sara Gilbert, Brooke Shields, Victoria Principal, Nell Carter and Meredith Baster. Triad merged with the William Morris Agency in 1991, where Kimble began a new phase of his career as head of the TV talent department.

He stepped away from the agency business in 2002. He would end up joining Meridith Baer Home, a luxury staging and interior design firm. He also once operated Kimble-Wallach, an antique and interior design store in Beverly Hills.

Kimble is survived by his niece Kimberly Robinson, nephew Steven Brewer, three great grand-nephews, and a grand niece. His elder sister, Barbara, preceded him in death in 2017.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Kimble’s memory to Briscoe Animal Rescue Center of Uvalde, P.O. Box 1650, Uvalde, TX, 78802.