Joan Hyler Presented With Courage Award

During her first public appearance since her near-fatal accident last year, manager-producer Joan Hyler accepted the Courage Award at UCLA’s Visionary Ball on Oct. 1, surrounded by a cadre of her friends and clients. The event benefited the UCLA Dept. of Neurosurgery, whose doctors helped save Hyler’s life after she sustained multiple critical injuries and endured months of difficult rehabilitation.

Hyler’s longtime friend and client,  Bruce Vilanch, who has known Hyler since college, presented her with the award. In an interview last September, he told The Journal, “Joan is the consummate fighter, and now she’s staging her own comeback. I never doubted for a moment that she was going to make it and come back strong, and I’m delighted to be validated.”

Throughout the evening, Hyler was surrounded by her steadfast supporters — close friend and WME agent Brian Swardstrom; Hyler’s ex-husband and business partner, Larry Scissors; her sister Nancy Berlin; and clients Diane Lane, Alfred Molina, Amber Tamblyn, Amber Heard and Karen Allen.

Also honored that evening were actor Jim Carrey; Dr. David T. Feinberg, CEO UCLA Hospital System; and Tony Pritzker, managing partner of The Pritzker Group.