Nancy Seltzer, Legendary Publicist To Garth Brooks And Sean Connery, Dies At 79

Nancy Seltzer was the kind of publicist whose work stayed mostly behind the scenes, but whose impact was felt across Hollywood for decades. The legendary PR powerhouse, who represented global stars like Garth Brooks and Sean Connery, has died at the age of 79.

Seltzer passed away on Thursday in Los Angeles. While the cause of death was not disclosed, a note shared on Garth Brooks’ official website said she died after a brief hospital stay.

Often described as one of the most respected names in entertainment publicity, Seltzer spent years guiding the public images of some of the biggest stars in music, film and literature. Brooks, whom she represented for a long time, paid tribute to her professionalism and grace in a statement, saying, “Public

relations is the hardest job in show business. She always handled every situation with the utmost class.”

Over the course of her career, Seltzer worked with an extraordinary roster of talent. Along with Brooks and Oscar-winning actor Sean Connery, her clients included author Danielle Steel, opera singer Joyce DiDonato and Spanish opera legend Placido Domingo. Her reach extended across generations of Hollywood, representing stars such as Whitney Houston, Julia Roberts, Bette Davis, Nicole Kidman, Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Ian McShane, Stana Katic, Annette Bening, Kathy Bates and Tom Wilkinson.

Seltzer was the founder of the boutique firm Nancy Seltzer & Associates, which operated from both the East and West coasts. She began her career in New York before eventually relocating full-time to Los Angeles, where she became a familiar and trusted figure in the industry.

Beyond representing individual stars, Seltzer played a key role in shaping award-season narratives. She previously oversaw publicity for the Oscars red carpet and handled Academy Award campaigns for several acclaimed films. Among them were Amadeus, Misery, The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, The Shawshank Redemption and Dead Man Walking.

Her film publicity work also covered a wide range of popular and critically celebrated titles, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Breaking Away, All That Jazz, Splash, RoboCop, Spinal Tap, Aliens, When Harry Met Sally…, A Few Good Men, Scream, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Good Will Hunting and Finding Forrester.