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]
On 4 July 2018, Gersh notified actor James Woods by email that they would no longer represent him.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,[21] and a number of agents from other companies.[22] In June 2024, the company announced that it had created the new role of Head of Affiliate Marketing, and was promoting staff in its digital division and elsewhere in the agency.[23][21]
In December 2024 Gersh acquired You First, an international sports and entertainment agency based in Madrid, acquiring its roster of clients in the sports industry. The acquisition doubled the size of Gersh, establishing its presence in offices in 14 countries, and launched the company's new Gersh Sports division.[24][25]
In 2024, the second class of Spike Fellows hosted the inaugural Spike Fellows' Young Black Hollywood Mixer,[28] a networking event for young Black people working in the industry.