Marty Ehrlichman, the talent manager who discovered Barbra Streisand at age 19 and guided her career for more than six decades, has died. He was 97 years old.
Ehrlichman died Saturday of “age-related causes,” according to a statement from his representative.
Ehrlichman’s family said in a statement, “To the world, he was a Hollywood legend; to us, he was an extremely devoted and loving father, husband, grandfather, and rock.” “We feel his loss deeply but are extremely proud of the life he lived and the indelible mark he left on the world.”
Streisand said: “Although Marty lived a long and full life, nothing can prepare you for the reality of losing a loved one. I truly thought he would live forever. In my eyes, he was simply indestructible – always by my side, through everything. And we never even had a contract. Marty can never be replaced, and I will be forever grateful for his friendship, loyalty, and unwavering support. ”
Ehrlichman discovered Streisand and helped her grow from an aspiring New York nightclub singer to a global star, serving as her manager for more than 60 years. He oversaw the business side of their careers, negotiating their recording, theatre, film, television, licensing and concert agreements.
Ehrlichman conceived and executive produced Streisand’s concerts and tours, including her 2000 Millennium Concert and her 2006–07 world tour. He also served as executive producer of their 1994 HBO television special. Barbara: The Concert, Which won him an Emmy Award and a Peabody Award.
Born on September 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, Ehrlichman graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Early in his career, in 1960, he began managing the pioneering Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, whose music influenced Bob Dylan. In 1961, Ehrlichman led the group to a The Ed Sullivan Show. She was only required to perform two songs, but was given extra time when fellow guest Pearl Bailey was not present. The group was allowed to perform for 20 minutes, which helped land a recording contract with Columbia Records.
That May, Mr. Ehrlichman went to the Bon Soir nightclub in Greenwich Village to support his friend, the comedian Phil Leeds. The opening act belonged to Streisand, who was 19 at the time. Streisand later recalled his enthusiasm for her talent, but she told him that she was an actress, and was performing as a singer only because she could not find any acting jobs.
He once recalled, “I remember his answer like it was yesterday.” “He told me, ‘If you’re a singer as well as a good actress, no one can stop you. I’ve just seen you do comedy, drama. You’ve made me laugh, you’ve made me cry. I think you have a big career ahead of you – records, television, theatre, films.’ And then he said, ‘I have a feeling you’re going to win every award in this business, by being out of the box for the first time…’ “Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Oscar.”
While she already had a manager, he left her business card and told her if she ever needed advice she should call his office, which was actually a telephone booth on 53rd Street. When her then-manager failed to secure her a raise, she eventually called him to an event in Detroit to help her negotiate salaries. Ehrlichman was unsuccessful but secretly paid the difference in his weekly salary himself. Streisand hired her soon thereafter.
Ehrlichman took a loan from Streisand and purchased her contract from her previous manager for $750. “From that point forward, Marty and I worked together for sixty years and never had a contract, just a handshake,” he recalled in his 2023 memoir, my name is barbara. He then secured a recording contract at Columbia Records, at their request, with unprecedented control over his own repertoire and the ability to design his own album covers.
Erlichman was also a filmmaker on such films as Streisand’s 1974 comedy for Pete’s sake; 1978 psychological thriller ComaWritten and directed by Michael Crichton and starring Michael Douglas; and the 1983 romantic thriller breathlessA contemporary American reimagining of Jean-Luc Godard’s landmark 1960 French New Wave film, starring Richard Gere A bout de soufflé. Ehrlichman married actor and film producer John R. He also executive-produced four films featuring the comic character Ernest, created and portrayed by Cherry III.
Among his other clients were heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman; Record producer and songwriter Bob Crewe, best known for his work with The Four Seasons; 1960s pop group Gary Puckett and The Union Gap; and comedian and actor Chevy Chase.
Ehrlichman was married to Miko Mayama Ehrlichman for 52 years. His son, JJ Ehrlichman, is a tour and production manager. Ehrlichman is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Talia, and his four grandchildren, Mia, Sarah, Olivia and Jack.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the National Kidney Foundation. A private service will be held.