Graydon Carter

A successful and influential figure in magazine publishing for more than two decades, Graydon Carter served as editor of the satirical Spy before shepherding the venerable Vanity Fair in the late 1990s and 2000s. Carter's signature blend of gossip and grit, as exemplified by Spy's caustic profiles of Hollywood executives and snarky takedowns of celebrities, helped to set the tone for media coverage in the new millennium, while his high-gloss tributes to movie glamour past and present in Vanity Fair kept the century-old publication both relevant and profitable. Publishing observers noted with some bemusement that after years of skewering producers and moguls, Carter actually became one in 2002 with the Robert Evans documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture," but his subsequent efforts, including "9/11" (CBS 2002), "Chicago 10" (2007) and "Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson" (2008), received critical praise for their focus and integrity. Throughout his far-ranging and celebrated career, Graydon Carter produced profitable and popular media projects that appealed to serious consumers and gossip mavens alike.