David Kramer (talent agent)

David Kramer
Born
Tallahassee, Florida, US
Alma mater
EmployerUnited Talent Agency
Board member of

David Kramer is an American entertainment industry executive and talent agent, and president of United Talent Agency.

Early life and education

Kramer was born in Tallahassee, Florida[1] and is of Jewish descent.[2] He studied journalism at the University of Georgia,[3] graduating from the Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1990.[4] While in school, he completed an internship for the Georgia Film Commission, and was an office production assistant for the film Murder in Mississippi (1990).[3] Kramer earned his master's degree from the University of Southern California in 1992,[5] through the USC School of Cinematic Arts' Peter Stark Producing Program.[1][6][7]

Career

Kramer's career with United Talent Agency (UTA) began in 1992, working in the agency's mailroom and later becoming assistant to co-founder Peter Benedek.[3][8][9] He became an agent in the motion picture literary department and was named a partner in 2002.[1] He was then appointed to the board of directors in 2008.[3]

Kramer and Jay Sures held managing director roles starting in 2010.[3][8][10] Both became co-presidents in September 2017.[3][8][10] Kramer leads the agency's motion picture group, which focuses on areas including film finance, media rights, production, and talent. He also heads UTA's comedy touring, endorsement, licensing, and publishing efforts.[3][8][9] In September 2022 Kramer was named president of UTA.[11]

In 2017, Kramer and Sures, along with UTA's chief executive officer, Jeremy Zimmer, ranked number 33 on The Hollywood Reporter's list of the 100 "most powerful people in entertainment",[12] in addition to earning a spot on The New York Observer's 2017 list of "Content Kings".[13]

Throughout his career as a talent agent, Kramer has represented Judd Apatow,[14] John August, Brad Bird, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, Dan Futterman, Michael Goldenberg, Curtis Hanson, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver,[15] Charlie Kaufman, Ehren Kruger, Roger Kumble, and Robin Swicord.[3][16]

Personal life

Kramer has been on the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center's board of directors since 2009.[6][17][18] He was appointed to the advisory board of the Harold Ramis Film School, opened by The Second City, in early 2016.[19] Kramer was appointed to the advisory board for the Peabody Award program, which is presented by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, in 2017.[20][21] In 2018, he joined the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts Corporate Fund's Media and Entertainment Council and co-chaired their inaugural event, which featured performances by Patina Miller, Demetri Martin and Michelle Wolf.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c Fleming, Michael; Brodesser, Claude (February 1, 2002). "UTA adds 2 partners: Lit agents Kramer, Bowen rise to top slots". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Who Said Jews Run Hollywood?". The Times of Israel. June 23, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "David Kramer". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. 4 October 2017. ISSN 0042-2738. OCLC 810134503. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  4. ^ "Peabody Welcomes Four New Members to Advisory Board". Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. September 14, 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  5. ^ "Hot Sheet May 2008". USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Entertainment Industry Executives to Head Foundation Board". Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. July 28, 2009. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  7. ^ "Notable Alumni" (PDF). USC School of Cinematic Arts. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d Littleton, Cynthia (September 6, 2017). "UTA Promotes David Kramer and Jay Sures to Co-Presidents". Variety. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Wyche, Elbert (September 6, 2017). "David Kramer, Jay Sures named co-presidents of UTA". Screen International. ISSN 0307-4617. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Sun, Rebecca (September 6, 2017). "UTA Ups David Kramer and Jay Sures to Co-Presidents". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  11. ^ Hayes, Dade (2022-09-13). "UTA Elevates Co-Presidents David Kramer To President, Jay Sures To Vice Chairman". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  12. ^ "The THR 100: Hollywood Reporter's Most Powerful People in Entertainment". The Hollywood Reporter. June 21, 2017. ISSN 0018-3660. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  13. ^ Jones, Oliver (November 7, 2017). "Observer's 2017 Content Kings". The New York Observer. ISSN 1052-2948. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  14. ^ Miller, Daniel (May 21, 2013). "United Talent Agency shoots for the stars with new screening room". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. OCLC 3638237. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 17, 2015). "'Jurassic World' & 'Avatar 2' Cowriters Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver Sign with UTA". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  16. ^ Fleming, Michael (May 29, 2008). "Pair stabilize UTA board". Daily Variety. Archived from the original on July 28, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "Board of Directors". Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  18. ^ Higgins, Bill (April 13, 2011). "Fighting the Big C, Tastefully". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  19. ^ Jones, Chris (February 9, 2016). "Second City to open Harold Ramis Film School, a first for comedy moviemaking". Chicago Tribune. Tronc. ISSN 1085-6706. OCLC 60639020. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  20. ^ "Peabody Adds 4 New Members to Advisory Board". The Hollywood Reporter. September 14, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  21. ^ "Peabody Welcomes New Advisory Board Members". Peabody Awards. 14 September 2017. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  22. ^ "Russell Granet, Patina Miller, David Kramer, Demetri Martin, and..." Getty Images. 20 June 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-11.