Zoli Agency
Modeling agency based in New York City
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Zoli Agency was a modeling agency based in New York City, particularly notable in the 1970s and 1980s.[1] In 1981, the documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman released the film Model, which was filmed in part at the Zoli Agency. It was screened on PBS.[2]
| Industry | Modeling agency |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Zoltan "Zoli" Rendessy |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
History
The agency was established by a Budapest-born Hungarian designer named Zoltan "Zoli" Rendessy in 1971, as Zoli Management Inc.[3][4] It was originally more geared towards male models, and was known as one of the elite male modeling agencies in the 1970s.[1][5][6] The agency quickly made a name for itself as specializing in "fresh new faces, especially the freaky, funky, far-out varieties," as an article in People magazine put it.[4]
The agency had a considerable number of celebrities on their books, including Jay Johnson,[7] Veruschka (signed 1975),[1] Geena Davis (signed 1979),[8] Andy Warhol (signed in 1981),[9] Louise Robey, Vanity, and Dolph Lundgren (signed 1983), although his modeling for the company was short-lived as he was described as "a bit too tall and muscular for a model's size 40".[10]
In 1982, Rendessy died of lymphoma, having willed the agency to a group of senior employees,[11] including Barbara Lantz, Victoria Pribble, who were majority shareholders, and Tom Laspina. In 1983, Laspina sued Lantz and Pribble over share of ownership and left the company.[12] Later that year the agency opened an office in Hollywood to represent their clients in the movie industry. This effort was not successful and was ended in 1985.[11]
In 1989, the modeling agency expanded to Miami Beach for the launch of Zoli South.[13]
Zoli Management Inc. was dissolved on December 31, 2001.[14]
