Paul Caruso Obituary

Saturday August 17, 2001

LOS ANGELES - Attorney Paul Caruso, whose clients ranged from entertainers and athletes to Charles Manson follower Susan Atkins, died Tuesday. He was 81.

"Call Paul" became a popular anthem among celebrities in trouble in the 1950s through the 1980s. He represented Atkins on murder charges before lawyer Daye Shinn took over her defense in the Tate-La Bianca murders.

Caruso also was the attorney for war hero and actor Audie Murphy, who was charged with firing a gun at a dog trainer; Eddie Nash, who was accused of four Laurel Canyon slayings; and TV sports reporter Stan Duke in the gunshot slaying of radio commentator Averill Berman.

Caruso also sued UCLA and Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, for $1 million in 1969 on behalf of American Basketball Association player Dennis Grey, whose jaw was broken during a pickup basketball game.

Caruso in 1978 became founding president of the Italian-American Lawyers Association.

Attorney represented entertainers and athletes, dead at 81

LOS ANGELES (AP) ---- Attorney Paul Caruso, whose clients during the last 45 years ranged from entertainers and athletes to Charles Manson follower Susan Atkins, has died. He was 81.

Caruso died Tuesday in a residential care facility, said son P. Carey Caruso, also an attorney.

"Call Paul" became a popular anthem among celebrities in trouble in the 1950s through the 1980s. He represented Atkins on murder charges before lawyer Daye Shinn took over her defense in the Tate-La Bianca murders.

He was also the attorney for war hero and actor Audie Murphy, who was charged with firing a gun at a dog trainer; Eddie Nash, who was accused of four Laurel Canyon slayings; and TV sports reporter Stan Duke in the gunshot slaying of radio commentator Averill Berman.

Caruso won reinstatement of a state license for veteran fight promoter George Parnassus, defended Art Aragon on allegations of trying to bribe welterweight opponent Dick Goldstein to take a dive in their 1957 fight, and handled contract and other disputes for manager Willie Ketchum, heavyweight Jerry Quarry, lightweight champion Ismael Laguna and Panamanian fight promoter Jorge Panay.

He worked out a trade for Angels pitcher Bo Belinsky after Belinsky was sent down to the Angels' Hawaii farm club in 1964 following an altercation with a Los Angeles Times sportswriter.

Caruso also sued UCLA and Lew Alcindor, later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, for $1 million in 1969 on behalf of American Basketball Association player Dennis Grey, whose jaw was broken during a pickup basketball game.

Born to Sicilian immigrants in upstate New York, Caruso boasted his Italian heritage and in 1978 became founding president of the Italian-American Lawyers Association.

Caruso is survived by his wife, Gloria Salamone Caruso; sons Carey, Doug and Vito; daughters Lucille Caruso Ball and Regina Caruso Jobling; stepdaughter Gina Salamone; and sisters Rose Madden and Gloria Petrick.

A memorial service will be held Sunday afternoon at Casa Italiana.