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I'm trying to recall the word used to describe someone tyrannically demanding of talent/artists/actors. A despot.
Singali?
Pretty sure it's the name of a character from a book. Maybe killed them in the book, not sure. Obviously I've never read it. Pretty common usage. "To be a ___".
Sounds like you’re searching for "svengali".
The word "svengali" has come to refer to a person who, with evil intent, dominates, manipulates, and controls a creative person such as a singer or an actor.
