Marty Erlichman, the entertainment manager who discovered Barbra Streisand and managed her for more than six decades, died on Friday of age-related causes. He was 97.
“To the world, he was a giant of Hollywood; to us, he was a deeply devoted and loving father, husband, grandfather, and rock,” Erlichman’s family wrote in a statement. “We feel his loss deeply but are endlessly proud of the life he lived and the indelible mark he left on the world.”
Career with Streisand
Over 60 years, Erlichman shaped Streisand’s career from New York nightclub singer to international star on stage and screen. He negotiated agreements and oversaw the business side of her career. He worked on her 2000 Millennium Concert and the 2006 to 2007 world tour, and he executive produced her 1994 HBO special “Barbra: The Concert.”
“Although Marty lived a long and full life, nothing can prepare you for the reality of losing someone so dear,” Streisand said in a statement.
Other clients and film work
Erlichman’s other clients included the Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, record producer and songwriter Bob Crewe, the 1960s pop group Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, and comedian and actor Chevy Chase.
He also worked as a film producer. His credits include Streisand’s 1974 comedy “For Pete’s Sake,” the 1978 psychological thriller “Coma,” directed by Michael Crichton, and the 1983 romantic thriller “Breathless,” starring Richard Gere.
Background
Erlichman was born September 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. He is survived by his wife, Miko Mayama Erlichman; their son, J.J.; daughter-in-law, Talia; and four grandchildren. Donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the National Kidney Foundation.
Source: Variety Music
