Manny " Manuel Stuart" Klausner

Manuel "Manny" Stuart Klausner, a distinguished libertarian lawyer, writer, and co-founder of the Reason Foundation, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. Born on August 14, 1939, Manny lived a remarkable life dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, free markets, and the pursuit of justice.

A graduate of UCLA and New York University School of Law, where he excelled as a Root-Tilden Scholar and Associate Managing Editor of the N.Y.U. Law Review, Manny furthered his legal education with an LL.M. from NYU as a Ford Foundation Fellow in Comparative Law where he was privileged to study economics under the renowned Ludwig von Mises, whose rigorous defense of free markets helped shape his intellectual life. After completing two law degrees at NYU, Manny pursued further studies at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark from 1963 to 1964, with support of grants from the Ford Foundation and the Fulbright Program.

 His academic journey included a year on the faculty of the University of Chicago Law School (1964-1965) laying the foundation for a career marked by intellectual rigor and principled advocacy.

Manny’s legal career spanned decades, beginning at Kindel & Anderson, LLP, before he established the Law Offices of Manuel S. Klausner in 1996. Renowned for his work in constitutional law, election law, and media law, he represented clients in high-profile cases, including defending Proposition 209 and serving as General Counsel to the Individual Rights Foundation. His contributions earned him accolades such as the Lawyer-of-the-Year Award from the Constitutional Rights Foundation and the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

A passionate libertarian, Manny co-founded Reason Enterprises in 1971, which published Reason magazine, and later the Reason Foundation in 1978 alongside Tibor Machan and Bob Poole. He served as editor of Reason and remained a trustee, shaping the discourse on liberty through his writings in publications like the Los Angeles Times, Reason, and the N.Y.U. Law Review.

Together with his beloved wife, Willette, Manny not only shaped cultural landscapes but also left an indelible mark on the arts and culinary worlds. Willette, a pioneering force in theater and film for over four decades, partnered with Manny to produce a remarkable portfolio of critically acclaimed works, including “Othello,” “Good Night and Good Luck,” “Dead Outlaw,” “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Operation Mincemeat,” “Glengarry Glen Ross,” “Gypsy,” “Sunset Blvd,” "Hadestown," "MJ the Musical," "The Wiz," "Purlie Victorious," "Ain’t Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations," "Cabaret – the Revival," "Devil Wears Prada," "Stereophonic," "Three Mo’ Tenors," and other groundbreaking productions. Their shared passion for creativity extended to the culinary realm, where they co-founded the American Institute of Wine and Food alongside luminaries like Julia Child, Robert Mondavi, and Kim and Michael McCarty among others. Known affectionately as "super foodies" and "gastronauts," they explored cuisines across more than 50 countries and invested in over 40 restaurants, blending their love for liberty with a zest for life’s finer pleasures.

Manny was predeceased by his parents, Isadore and Helen Klausner, his brother, Howard Klausner, and his sister, Geraldine Senft. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 56 years, Willette; his twin brother, Dr. Sheldon Klausner, M.D., and Sheldon’s wife, Barbro; his sister-in-law, Margaret Murphy; and his cousins, Gloria (Michael) Gerard and Howard (Alice) Gruber, along with their children. Manny is also survived by his treasured nieces and nephews—Hanna Klausner, Linda Klausner, Sara Klausner, Robin Parks, Dawn Parks, Gregory Parks, Michael (Misheline) Parks, Leroy Jordan, Steve (Marsha) Senft, Cheri (Paul) Cohen, and Dave (Eva) Senft as well as numerous grandnieces and grandnephews – who fondly knew him as “Uncle Manny.”

Manny also leaves behind a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and admirers who valued his keen intellect, humor, and steadfast dedication to “free minds and free markets,” the guiding ethos of Reason Magazine. A passionate traveler, chess aficionado, theater lover, and devotee of tai chi under Nzazi Malonga (Master Zi) he lived with boundless energy and curiosity. His enduring legacy lives on in the countless lives he influenced and the principles he upheld.

A private funeral service for family and friends will be held on Sunday, April 6, 1:30 pm at Mt Sinai Memorial Cemetery in the Tanach Chapel in Los Angeles.  

In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to make a donation in his name to the Reason Foundation at melissa.mann@reason.org or 310-740-8582.