The Gersh Agency (known as Gersh or TGA) is a talent and literary agency established in 1949 by Phil Gersh,[2] based in Beverly Hills, California and New York City.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Talent and Literary Agencies |
| Founded | Beverly Hills, California, U.S.(1949) |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills, California New York City, New York |
Key people | Bob Gersh, David Gersh and Leslie Siebert: Co-presidents[1] |
Number of employees | about 300[1] |
The company was wholly owned by the Gersh family until 2023, when a minority interest was sold to Crestview Partners, a private equity company. The agency is currently run by Phil Gersh's sons, Bob and David,[3] and Leslie Siebert as a third co-president.[4]
History
Gersh was founded in Beverly Hills in 1949 by Phil Gersh. He was considered one of the last links between Hollywood's Golden Age and today's corporate-owned movie business,[5] and his clients included Humphrey Bogart, David Niven, and Richard Burton.[6] In 1965, Phil Gersh was able to purchase the agency's Beverly Hills office with his fee for representing Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music.[7]
Phil Gersh gradually handed over responsibility to his two sons, Bob and David Gersh but continued to play a role in the company's management until 10 weeks before his death in 2004.[5] Richard Arlook was working at the agency from 1990 until 2008.[5][8]
In 2010, Gersh purchased literary agent Hohman, Maybank, Lieb.[9]
In 2016, the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) sued Gersh, alleging that Gersh had poached an APA agent who had just renewed their contract.[10][11]
On 4 July 2018, Gersh notified actor James Woods by email that they would no longer represent him. Woods accused the agency of liberal political bias due to his outspoken conservative views.[12][13][14]
In 2019, agents Roy Ashton, David Rubin, and Shan Roy came under fire after cancelling a studio meeting of a former client that had left them during the WGA/ATA conflict. In response to the immediate criticism, the agency said it was "just following protocol", which drew further ire within the industry.[15][16]
In 2023, Gersh sold a 45% stake to investment firm Crestview Partners, and Leslie Siebert was named as a third co-president.[3][1] Until this sale, the company had been wholly owned by the Gersh family for nearly 75 years.[17]
In 2024, Gersh began a global expansion plan, acquiring the digital and unscripted departments of A3 Artists Agency, along with more than 25 agents, 45 additional staff members, and hundreds of clients.[18] The company also brought in new senior executives in the Business Affairs,[19] Communications,[20] and HR departments, and a number of agents from other companies.[21]
Gersh Spike Lee Fellows
In 2023, Gersh partnered with client Spike Lee and the Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC)—consisting of three Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Morehouse College, Spelman College, and Clark Atlanta University—to launch the Spike Fellows at Gersh program.[22] The initiative is designed to nurture creative undergraduate students from AUCC with interest in the entertainment industry.[23]