Legendary talent manager John Fordham passes away aged 75
Ben Fordham has shared a touching tribute to his dad, as celebrity tributes pour in following the talent manager’s death.
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Manager to the stars and wine critic John Fordham has passed away just days after being told his cancer was terminal.
The 75-year-old, whose The Fordham Company management roster has included Alan Jones, John Laws, Lisa Wilkinson, Nick Cummins, Mark Bouris and Kerri-Anne Kennerley, succumbed to the throat cancer he has been battling for years at around 7am Sunday morning at the Sacred Heart hospice in Darlinghurst.
Fordham was listening to his favourite song when he passed away — My Way, by Frank Sinatra.
The legendary talent agent leaves behind his wife Veronica, with whom he started The Fordham Company in 1979, two sons – Sydney radio broadcaster Ben, and Nick, now chief executive of the Fordham Company, and artist daughter Sarah.
His brother Bob Fordham is a former rugby referee who went on to become chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union.
Earlier this year Fordham established the Head and Neck Foundation to raise cancer awareness.
In a post on Twitter, Ben Fordham said his father died with no regrets.
My dad John has died peacefully surrounded by his family. It was a special goodbye and we feel blessed. He never missed a chance to tell people he loved them so he died with no regrets. Today he’s being awarded an ‘Order of Australia’ for service to charity. Love ya, Jack x pic.twitter.com/OhJnxsSXiC
— Ben Fordham (@BenFordham) November 10, 2019
John was going to be awarded an Order of Australia medal next year but the ceremony was brought forward to Monday in light of his diagnosis.
The ceremony will go ahead to honour him posthumously and is expected to be attended by Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and police commissioner Mick Fuller.
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Ben had informed his father that his ceremony had been bumped forward, who squeezed his son’s hand in approval before he passed away.
Rugby great Andrew Johns and John Laws were among the high-profile celebrities to visit Fordham in his final hours.
Tributes have started pouring in following news of his death.
Such sad news…John, we’ll miss you. To his loving wife Veronica, to Ben, Nick & Sarah, his family and friends, our thoughts are with you. Rest In Peace Fordo. #JohnFordham #Fordo pic.twitter.com/dl0Rh6nzYX
— Melissa Doyle (@melissadoyle) November 10, 2019
John Fordham RIP one of the great characters of sports media management.
— Ken Sutcliffe (@Ken_Sutcliffe) November 10, 2019
In an “obit-ribute” author Peter FitzSimons and husband of Lisa Wilkinson said: “In business, (John) Fordham played the game ruthlessly, driving hard to get the best contracts for his clients. Personally, he was unfailingly warm and engaging.”
Derryn Hinch said: “Sad to hear that. Knew him from way back in the Qantas days.”
Peter Ford: “Condolences Ben to you and family. Any performer would dream of having your father represent them and any wine or airline would be overjoyed to have your father hyping them. But most importantly he was a decent & honest man.”
Leigh Sales:
NSW Senator Arthur Sinodinos wrote: “Run hard, done good. Whatever his public achievements, today John Fordham is being remembered most importantly as a father and grandfather and friend to many.”
In an “obit-ribute”, author Peter FitzSimons said: “In business, (John) Fordham played the game ruthlessly, driving hard to get the best contracts for his clients. Personally, he was unfailingly warm and engaging.”