Leslie Grade - Biography

Leslie Grade (1916-1979) was a British talent agent and executive with The Grade Organisation. He was born Laszlo (or Lazarus) Winogradsky in Tokmak, Ukraine, Russian Empire. Along with his brothers Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont, he became a leading figure in theatre management.

His son Michael Grade became a successful television executive, who was eventually Chairman of ITV. He had two children by his second marriage, to Audrey Smith, Anita Grade (now Anita Land), a theatrical agent and Antony Grade, head of exterior design for Renault. Grade was for many years a Director of Leyton Orient Football Club along with his friend Harry Zussman. Leslie Grade suffered a major stroke, which disrupted his career in middle age and he died in 1979.