Jay Kane, the owner of the talent agency TalentWorks NY, died April 24 after a brief illness. He was 65 years old.

Mr. Kane was born in 1958, and grew up in Dayton, Ohio, the youngest child of Norma and Murray Kane. Mr. Kane attended New York University, majoring in theatre arts, and studied acting with Stella Adler. After graduating, he turned his focus to behind-the-scenes theatre work, working as a stage manager, director, and occasional playwright. 

His work as a receptionist and assistant at the Tantleff Office in the late 1980s led to a successful career as a talent agent, where he built a long-standing relationship with agent Alan Willig. From there, he joined HWA Talent Agency, which merged with the Los Angeles firm TalentWorks. He worked at TalentWorks for more than two decades, leading the New York office as he dedicated his life to finding new talent, and helping his roster to flourish in their careers, whether on stage, film, or television.

Mr. Kane is survived by his sister Leslie, brother Scott, niece Nomi, and nephews Ben and Shmulik. A memorial celebration is planned for June 24, 2024 at MCC Theater at 6:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations could be made to the Entertainment Community Fund, Broadway Cares, or simply by taking someone to the theatre who otherwise would not be able to attend a performance.