BETTE MIDLER - MIDLER'S MANAGER DEAD AT 64

BETTE MIDLER's beloved manager, AARON RUSSO, has lost his cancer battle at the age of 64. The svengali, who also produced movies like Trading Places and Teachers died at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center early on Friday (24Aug07). Russo started his career as a concert promoter, representing the likes of The Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin. He became Midler's manager in the early 1970s and went on to produce her movie musical The Rose in 1979. Republican Russo also ran for Nevada governor in 1998 and declared his candidacy for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination in 2004. He lost both bids. His final movie project was 2006 documentary America: Freedom to Fascism, which he produced and directed.