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.

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On 4 July 2018, Gersh notified actor James Woods by email that they would no longer represent him.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]

References