Shapiro died at his home in Beverly Hills, California, Variety reported.
The Bronx-born Shapiro teamed with his late business partner, Howard West, to bring the sitcom “Seinfeld” to television, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The pair founded Shapiro/West Associates and also did numerous projects for Kaufman in addition to their work on the “Seinfeld” sitcom, Variety reported.
George Shapiro - Truly one of the loveliest of humans. A champion to so many of the brightest lights - a genuine classic. I loved him. Andy Kaufman loved him. Tony Clifton was not a fan! pic.twitter.com/3ls5936Cgw
The duo also helped guide the careers of Reiner, Robert Wuhl, Marty Feldman, Gabe Kaplan and Peter Bonerz, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Shapiro’s love of laughter and reverence for those who inspire it helped him build a career in comedy as an unabashed supporter of comic performers and comedy writers,” Shapiro’s family said in a statement.
More recently, Shapiro was executive producer of the Crackle/Netflix series “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” which was hosted by Seinfeld, according to Variety.
Danny DeVito, who co-starred with Kaufman on “Taxi” from 1978 to 1983, later played Shapiro in the 1999 biopic about Kaufman, “Man on the Moon,” that starred Jim Carrey, according to Variety.
“George was one of the sweetest guys on the planet,” DeVito said in a statement. “We got to see that smiling face every Friday night during the ‘Taxi’ days. He never missed a show.
“Peace brother.”
One of the dearest people I have ever known, George Shapiro, just passed. I bless our friendship and, at 99, I’m sure I’ll see him relatively soon. pic.twitter.com/3JGipf1P93
Born on May 18, 1931, and raised in the New York City borough of the Bronx, Shapiro had a decades-long partnership with West, a childhood friend who died in December 2015.
Shapiro spent summers during his teenage years as a lifeguard at Tamiment Resort in the Pocono Mountains, where he met such performers as Dick Shawn, Pat Carroll, Carol Burnett, Barbara Cook, future director Herbert Ross, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Equally important to his career, Shapiro met talent agents.
“I didn’t even know what an agent was, but they came to see the show, to talk to the girls, talk to the comedians,” Shapiro said during a Television Academy Foundation interview, according to Deadline. “I said, ‘This is your job? To watch the show, to have a nice dinner, to come to a resort with a lake? I have to look into that.’”
Oh, Georgie, no! George Shapiro was pure joy, embodied a childlike curiosity, and loved his friends with everything he had. He connected people he felt should know each other and all those people had at least one thing in common- loving George. He loved life like no one else. RIP pic.twitter.com/AoLfWCdgr6
Shapiro served as executive producer for the Showtime special “Andy Kaufman at Carnegie Hall” and “The Andy Kaufman Special,” Variety reported. Other specials he put together included Elayne Boosler’s “Broadway Baby” for Showtime,” Seinfeld’s “Stand-Up Confidential” for HBO and the animated “The 2000 Year Old Man,” with Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner reprising their buddy act for HBO.
Shapiro also was executive producer for the 2001 documentary “Comedian,” which traced Jerry Seinfeld’s return to stand-up comedy after “Seinfeld” ended its successful run on television.
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George Shapiro through the years George Shapiro accepts the lifetime of bliss award onstage at the David Lynch Foundation: A Night of Comedy honoring George Shapiro at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday June 30, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif. Looking on at right is David Lynch. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation/AP Images) (John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation via AP)
George Shapiro through the years From left, Jay Leno, George Shapiro and Jerry Seinfeld attend the David Lynch Foundation: A Night of Comedy honoring George Shapiro at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday June 30, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation/AP Images) (John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation via AP)
George Shapiro through the years NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 03: George Shapiro, the late comedian Andy Kaufman's agent, attends Kaufman's artifact display at Carolines On Broadway on November 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Ben Hider/Getty Images) (Ben Hider/Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years George Shapiro during 2006 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Aspen - Behind the Smile Party at Sky Hotel in Aspen, Colorado, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 04: Bob Saget and George Shapiro attend the 18th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival "Benjamin" Premiere After Party at Beauty & Essex on April 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years David Lynch, right, presents the lifetime of bliss award to George Shapiro onstage during the David Lynch Foundation: A Night of Comedy honoring George Shapiro at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday June 30, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation/AP Images) (John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation via AP)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 20: Katie Killean and George Shapiro attend the 2nd annual Los Angeles Fatherhood Lunch to benefit GOOD+FOUNDATION at The Palm Restaurant on April 20, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for GOOD+ Foundation ) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images for GOOD+ Foundation)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 17: George Shapiro attends the premiere of HBO's 'If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast' on May 17, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix/WireImage) (JB Lacroix/WireImage via Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years George Shapiro attends the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) (Richard Shotwell/Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 02: Producer George Shapiro attends a Q&A at a screening of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" at the 13th Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre on May 2, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - JULY 17: Jerry Seinfeld, George Shapiro and Eddie Murphy attend the LA Tastemaker event for Comedians in Cars at The Paley Center for Media on July 17, 2019 in Beverly Hills City. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)
George Shapiro through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Carol Leifer, George Shapiro and Lori Wolf attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind from HBO on June 27, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for HBO via Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 02: Producer George Shapiro, "Superman" socks detail, attends a Q&A at a screening of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" at the 13th Annual Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre on May 2, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images) (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 11: Norman Lear (L) and George Shapiro attend The Big Sick Cocktail Reception at The Chateau Marmont on December 11, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Amazon) (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Amazon)
George Shapiro through the years George Shapiro, left, and Russell Brand arrive at the David Lynch Foundation: A Night of Comedy honoring George Shapiro at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Saturday June 30, 2012 in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation/AP Images) (John Shearer/Invision for David Lynch Foundation via AP)
George Shapiro through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: (L-R) Robert Klein, Jerry Seinfeld and producer/subject George Shapiro attend HBO's "The Bronx, USA" world premiere at Hudson Yards on October 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images) (Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CA - MAY 17: (L-R) Dick Van Dyke, George Shapiro and Arlene Silver at the LA Premiere of "If You're Not In The Obit, Eat Breakfast" from HBO Documentaries on May 17, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images)
George Shapiro through the years HOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 30: George Shapiro attends First-Ever GOOD+ Foundation Halloween Bash hosted by Jessica Seinfeld at Sunset Gower Studios on October 30, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for GOOD+ ) (Rich Polk/Getty Images for GOOD+)
George Shapiro through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17: Bob Saget (L) and George Shapiro take a selfie together at a baseball game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 17, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/GC Images) (Noel Vasquez/GC Images via Getty Images)
