Tom Klassen is a former ICM Agent (International Creative Management) in the LA office.
At ICM and its earlier incarnation, CMA (Creative Management Associates), Tom advanced quickly from the TV Department to the Motion Picture Department, then the Literary Department and finally to the Motion Picture Packaging Department, where he worked exclusively with the major clients of the Agency.
After finding success as an agent he sought new challenges, entering the artistic arena himself. He wrote a feature script and went to the London Film School. While in England he wrote another screenplay, which led to other writing assignments back in the States and he wound up becoming a client of the agency he used to work for, ICM.
After several productive years as a writer and producer, Tom found he was still spending considerable time helping others with their careers. He partnered with the late Bill Barnes of ICM’s New York office in a very successful talent management company.
Their clients included, among others, Al Pacino, the Tennessee Williams Estate, Rachel Welch, Cole Hauser, Todd Field, Don Scardino, Valeria Golina, long time Saved By The Bell director, Don Barnhard and composer, Chris Young.
When Bill passed away, Tom decided to do something he had always wanted to do. He took some time to travel and pursued a documentary that was dear to him. Becoming active in talent management again, Tom now works with a small, select group of mostly new young actors, writers and directors and has formed a production company with client, Riley Bodenstab to develop feature projects.
Tom is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and attended the London Film School. He is based in Los Angeles, but enjoys also working with actors out of New York. His writer clients come from all over the world.
Today, Tom remains open to working with new talent and looks forward to building the careers of the next generation of significant artists.