Stephen King

• Literary agency: Darhansoff & Verrill (dvagency.com); Liz Darhansoff, Eric Amling (Business/Foreign Rights)
• Film/TV manager: Rand Holston, Rand Holston Management
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster / Scribner (US); Hodder & Stoughton (UK)
• Publicist: Not currently listed publicly
• Business inquiries: Through Darhansoff & Verrill or Rand Holston Management; official site: stephenking.com/contact

King's longtime agent Chuck Verrill died in January 2022; the agency continues under Liz Darhansoff.

Stephen King is one of the most vocal American celebrity supporters of Ukraine, with engagement spanning 8+ years. In 2018, he co-signed a PEN America letter calling for the release of imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and tweeted advocacy for his freedom. Since the February 2022 invasion, King has posted prolifically: he wore an "I Stand with Ukraine" shirt captioned "Glory to Ukraine", announced he would not renew contracts with Russian publishers, condemned the Kremenchuk shopping center missile strike, praised the Kharkiv counteroffensive, urged Americans not to "support appeasers who would leave them behind," and called Putin "a threat to humanity." In September 2024, on Ukraine's Kursk offensive, he wrote: "The Russians are getting their shit handed to them, and they deserve it. After all, they started it" — a post that received 52,000+ likes.

On February 24, 2026, King recorded a video for Ukrainian NGO Ukraine WOW: "We were with you four years ago — and we are with you now. Glory to Ukraine! Be strong." This confirms an existing working relationship with a Ukrainian organization.

The most direct bridge is Ukraine WOW, which already has a channel to King for video content. PEN America provides an institutional connection (King received their 2018 Literary Service Award). Jessica Chastain — who starred in his adaptation It Chapter Two and visited Irpin, Ukraine in August 2022 — represents a strong celebrity bridge combining professional ties and Ukraine engagement. King's relationship with J.K. Rowling is now strained, so she is not a viable intermediary.

King co-founded the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation (1986, ~$21M in assets, ~$3M/year in grants, focused almost exclusively on Maine — libraries, literacy, education, community health). He also founded The Haven Foundation (2006, ~$6.3M in assets, supporting freelance artists facing career-threatening crises). Grantmaking at the STK Foundation is currently paused for strategic planning through summer 2026. King has donated millions to the University of Maine, Bangor Public Library, and various local institutions.

Assessment: Very high-priority candidate. Already actively supports Ukraine through public advocacy and has a working relationship with Ukraine WOW. His enormous social media following (~7M+ on X) amplifies any message. Approach through Ukraine WOW or Darhansoff & Verrill.