From left, Nate ’n Al’s waitresses Vikki Allen, Gloria Leon, Tammy Haddad and waitress Kaye Coleman at the Democratic National Convention in L.A. in 2000. (Courtesy of LA Times)
Surprising as it sounds, the top freeagent in the City of Los Angeles is a 69-year old deli waitress according to the LA Times. As the favored watering hole of some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Nat ‘n Al’s deli, closes under pressure from the pandemic, top celebrities, city officials and other LA moguls are rushing to the aid of the 41-year veteran waitress, Gloria Leon. With a list of regulars any networking agent would die for — including Lew Wasserman, Bruce Willis, Jodie Foster, Steve Tisch, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Larry King among others — Leon’s hospitality and kindness quickly gained legendary status within the City of Angels. According to a member of the LA police commission, “There is no politician, there is no City Council member, there is no billionaire, who is more influential in Beverly Hills than Gloria,” and William Morris Endeavor partner Richard Weitz described Gloria as perhaps “the most well-connected non-entertainment person in all of L.A.” Larry King offered Leon high praise, saying, “She is one of the great, great restaurant workers anywhere. I can’t think of anyone in her league.”