Stallone Follows Costner, Baldwin Out CAA Door, Signs With ICM

Sylvester Stallone on Tuesday signed with International Creative Management, becoming the latest in a series of Creative Artists Agency clients to jump ship since the departure of former executives Michael Ovitz and Ron Meyer.

Many in the industry see Stallone’s decision as directly linked to the departure of Meyer, a CAA founder and Stallone’s agent for 14 years. Meyer’s first big deal at MCA, where he is now president, was to sign the actor to a $60-million, three-picture deal.

Stallone and his White Eagle Enterprises will be represented by an ICM team led by Jim Wiatt, president and co-chief executive, and David Wirtschafter, co-head of the motion picture department.

“We are excited and thrilled to be in the Sylvester Stallone business,” Wiatt said.

Stallone’s recent movies--”Judge Dredd” and “Assassins”--have not performed well domestically, but the action star remains strong overseas, where his films consistently gross more than $100 million.

Stallone’s departure from CAA follows recent exits by several actors, including Kevin Costner and Alec Baldwin, and a number of directors.

CAA didn’t minimize the loss, but agents there noted that nearly 30 clients--including Anthony Hopkins and Melanie Griffith--have been signed with CAA since Ovitz left to become president of Walt Disney Co. and Meyer was named president of MCA.