Johnny Grant, 'mayor' of Hollywood was 84

It's the end of an era in Hollywood. Johnny Grant, the last of the "honorary mayors" for whom the ceremonial title still meant something, was found dead tonight in his room at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. Police believe he died of natural causes. Grant must have presided over thousands of news conferences, luncheons and unveilings of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Before he was Mr. Hollywood, Grant worked in radio, TV and movies. Here are some highlights from the bio on his website.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences paid tribute to Grant in 1988, awarding him their highest honor, the Los Angeles Area Governor's Award. It was the second time that he had won the coveted Emmy, having had a total of fourteen nominations.

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Grant's legendary accomplishments in Hollywood draw strongly from his roots in radio and television. He was one of the television medium's earliest pioneers and stars. Beginning in 1946, he was host of the game show "Stop the Clock," which aired alternately on Dumont Television in New York City, WBGR-TV, Schenectady, N.Y. and WPTZ-TV, Philadelphia. In 1949, Johnny Grant provided the color commentary to Tom Harmon's play-by-play of Pacific Coast Football games broadcast over one of the first regional TV sports networks. 1950 saw Grant serving as the daytime host for four hours daily on KECA-TV (later to become KABC Television).

Back to his first love, radio, Grant created and hosted Los Angeles radio station KMPC's "Freeway Club" from 1951 to 1959. He was the first disc jockey in the nation to intersperse regular traffic reports between his records and famous-name guests.

Grant appeared on the NBC Television Network 1953 to 1954 as co-host of "7 to 8," one of the fledgling industry's first infotainment shows immediately preceding "The Today Show" with Dave Garroway on the West Coast.

In January, 1965, Grant was accredited as KMPC's White House Correspondent. His keen insight into national politics combined with his warm style and occasional irreverent wit brought accolades from not only the listening public but a long string of White House residents.

The years 1969 to '71 saw Johnny again as a daily regular on television. He hosted KTLA's "Johnny Grant at Universal Studios," featuring celebrities from all walks of life and capturing some of their more candid conversations. This heralded the era of live television shooting regularly, for the first time, on a movie studio lot.

He also did a three-year stint on KTLA's "News at Ten," with his nightly feature "Johnny Grant Backstage in Hollywood." In addition, Johnny was also one of television's first afternoon and prime-time movie hosts.

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He has served with distinction as President of the Los Angeles City Fire Commission, Los Angeles County Social Service Commission, the Police Commission of Burbank, as a White House appointee to the national USO Board of Governors, as International Ambassador to United Nations Forces for the International Korean War Memorial and presently is Chairman of the Selection Committee for the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Chairman of the Hollywood Historic Trust. He has served on boards of the Bob Hope USO, the Arthritis Foundation and the Los Angeles Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He currently serves on the board of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Fox-11 devoted the first quarter of its 10 pm news to Grant's passing; all the local stations led with the news at 11 pm. "We have a lost a beautiful person...goodbye Johnny," Angie Dickinson said on Channel 2. (Sorry, I didn't see KTLA tonight.) For those who aren't from Los Angeles, the reason he's the honorary mayor is that Hollywood is a district of Los Angeles and doesn't have a real mayor. Many of the dozens of communities within the city of Los Angeles have designated unofficial honorary mayors through the years, usually someone from show business who would emcee ribbon-cuttings and show up at other community events.

Garcetti statement: City Council President Eric Garcetti, who represents Hollywood, said in an emailed statement, "Johnny Grant was Hollywood's greatest star. He brought Hollywood the industry and Hollywood the neighborhood together. He was at the center of the story of Hollywood....Johnny was a dear, dear friend, and I and Hollywood are devastated by his passing. May Johnny Grant rest in peace."

Updated and edited