Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys founder whose life was chronicled in the movie “Love & Mercy,” was placed under conservatorship Thursday more than three months after the death of his wife Melinda Wilson, who was his primary caregiver.
Wilson's publicist, Jean Sievers, and business manager LeeAnn Hard were appointed guardians Thursday. Hard is also administrator of the estate of the singer and musical innovator, who suffers from dementia. The February petition seeking guardianship stated that Sievers and Hard “have had a close relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Wilson for many years, and Mr. Wilson trusts them.”
The conservatorship, approved by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gus T. May, covers only Wilson's person, meaning decisions related to his personal care and health care decisions. The 81-year-old's estate is held by his trust.
“The court finds that the proposed ward consents to and does not object to the guardianship of the person,” May wrote Thursday in a document obtained by The Times. “The court determines, based on clear and convincing evidence, that a guardianship of the person is necessary and appropriate in the sense that the proposed ward is unable to care for the person of the person and the guardianship is the least restrictive alternative necessary for the protection of the ward.”
The primary songwriter behind the “Pet Sounds” album and most of the Beach Boys’ music, as well as his own solo work, “has a significant neurocognitive disorder,” the court found, “and lacks the ability to give informed medical consent for medications.” .”
The February petition stated that Wilson has been taking medications for dementia and is unable to self-administer medications and adhere to his medication schedule. His psychiatrist, Dr. Stephen S. Marmer, said in a statement that Wilson has significant deficits in information processing and alertness.
Melinda Wilson had taken care of her husband's daily living needs and was also named his health care agent in his advance health directive. Hard and Sievers will make arrangements for her future care, and Wilson will continue to live in her home. The judge also indicated that Wilson's children would be informed by nurses about her father's care and would be consulted about any “material decisions related to medical care.” Wilson has seven children (two, Carnie and Wendy Wilson) with his first wife Marilyn Rovell and five with Melinda.
Brian, who divorced Rovell in 1979 and had been reclusive for years, met and dated Melinda Ledbetter on and off from 1986 to 1989. Psychologist and esvengali Eugene Landy oversaw much of their courtship and they eventually separated. They reconnected years later and married in 1995, several years after the musician freed himself from Landy's controversial treatment.
“I got my life back when Dr. Landy's program was ended,” Wilson told the Times in 1998. “She [Melinda] It helped me get back into the swing of things. I began to relate to society and become part of it again.”
Their relationship was chronicled in the 2015 film “Love & Mercy,” starring Paul Dano and John Cusack as Brian and Elizabeth Banks as Melinda.
Following Melinda's death on January 30, her husband posted a statement on his website that movingly expressed his grief.
“My heart is broken. Melinda, my beloved wife of 28 years, passed away this morning. Our five children and I are crying. We are lost,” he wrote.
“Melinda was more than my wife. She was my savior. She gave me the emotional security she needed to have a career. She encouraged me to make the music that was closest to my heart. She was my anchor. She was everything to us. Please pray for her.”
Times staff writer Alexandra Del Rosario and former staff writer Matt Pearce contributed to this report.
