Marty Erlichman Dies: Barbra Streisand’s Longtime Manager Was 97
He was not on the list.
Marty Erlichman, who discovered Barbra Streisand and in over 60 years as her manager helped shape and guide her career, has died. He was 97.
Erlichman first saw Streisand when he went to see an old
friend, comedian Phil Leeds, perform. In 1991, he recalled that night.
“Out walked this eighteen-year-old singer as his opening act. She sang five songs and I had chills through all of them,” he recalled. Erlichman came backstage to offer his compliments.
She later said, “I told him, ‘I’m not a singer, really. I’m an actress, and I’m only doing this because no one will hire me to act.’
“I remember his response like it was yesterday. He told me, ‘If you’re as good an actress as you are a singer, then there’s no stopping you. I just saw you do comedy, drama. You made me laugh, you made me cry. I think you have a big career ahead of you — records, television, theater, movies.”
Three months later, he got a call from the actress/singer.
“She was playing some club in Detroit and was only making $150 a week. She wanted $200 a week plus dinners. Her agent wasn’t helping her out, so she remembered I wanted to represent her. She called and told me her problem. ‘But I can’t pay you any commission,’ she warned me. I got on the first plane to Detroit and worked out a deal. The owners — a pair of brothers — only offered her $175 and no dinners. I told them behind her back I’d pay them the twenty-five-dollar difference if they’d throw in the dinners, which is what happened. The brothers said to me, ‘Let us get this straight. You flew here at your own expense so you could pay us twenty-five dollars and you’re not even her manager? You must really believe this girl is going to be a star.’ I sure as hell did.”
It turned out to be money well spent, and the beginning of a long partnership. As Streisand pointed out today in her statement, the duo never even had a contract between them
Erlichman negotiated Streisand’s recording, theater, film, television, licensing and concert agreements, overseeing the business side of a career that would become one of the most accomplished in entertainment history. He executive produced 10 of her TV specials — from her first, My Name Is Barbra in 1963, to her most recent, Barbra: The Music… The Mem’ries… The Magic! in 2017. The duo won Emmys for Barbra: The Concert in 1995 and Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments in 1974.
Erlichman likewise executive-produced the superstar’s record-setting concert appearances and tours. Among them, her 2000 Millennium Concert and her 2006–2007 world tour.
As Streisand wished him a happy 97th in a social post last
month, she offered, “He’s been the greatest manager ever!”
On hearing of his death, the superstar today offered the following tribute:
“Although Marty lived a long and full life, nothing can prepare you for the reality of losing someone so dear. 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.”
Even at the end, Erlichman was still planning for the future. Streisand said he recently “was trying to convince me to go on tour, and told me he’d be there every step of the way.”
Erlichman’s first film producing credit was the Streisand vehicle For Pete’s Sake in 1974. The film, directed by Peter Yates, was sandwiched between The Way We Were and Funny Girl during Streisand’s early-career run to superstardom.
His next film was the buzzy Michael Crichton thriller Coma,
starring Michael Douglas and Genevieve Bujold. That was followed by the
American adaptation of Breathless starring Richard Gere and four of the Ernest
movies starring Jim Varney.
He also managed the pioneering Irish folk group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, whose seaters were hand-knitted by Mr. Erlichman’s mother. Among his other clients were heavyweight champion George Foreman, record producer and songwriter Bob Crewe, known for his work with The Four Seasons, 1960s pop group Gary Puckett & The Union Gap and Chevy Chase.
Erlichman was married to Miko Mayama Erlichman for 52 years years. Their son, J.J. Erlichman, is a tour and production manager. In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by his daughter-in-law Talia, his four grandchildren Mia, Sarah, Olivia, and Jack.
The family today shared the following statement: “To the world, he was a giant of Hollywood; to us, he was a deeply devoted and loving father, husband, grandfather and rock. We feel his loss deeply but are endlessly proud of the life he lived and the indelible mark he left on the world.”
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 to honor his life.
Producer
Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic! (2017)
Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!
7.5
TV Special
executive producer
2017
Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn (2013)
Barbra Streisand: Back to Brooklyn
8.5
TV Special
executive producer
2013
Robin Lee Maggy in Coma (2012)
Coma
5.8
TV Mini Series
executive producer
2012
2 episodes
One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village
Vanguard - September 26, 2009 (2010)
One Night Only: Barbra Streisand and Quartet at the Village
Vanguard - September 26, 2009
7.9
Video
executive producer
2010
Streisand: Live in Concert (2009)
Streisand: Live in Concert
8.1
TV Special
executive producer
2009
Timeless: Live in Concert (2001)
Timeless: Live in Concert
8.2
TV Special
executive producer
2001
Barbra: The Concert (1994)
Barbra: The Concert
8.4
TV Special
executive producer
1994
INXS: Make My Video (1992)
INXS: Make My Video
3.4
Video Game
executive producer
1992
Kris Kross: Make My Video (1992)
Kris Kross: Make My Video
3.2
Video Game
executive producer
1992
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video (1992)
Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch: Make My Video
2.9
Video Game
executive producer
1992
Power Factory Featuring C+C Music Factory (1992)
Power Factory Featuring C+C Music Factory
Video Game
executive producer
1992
Jim Varney in Ernest Scared Stupid (1991)
Ernest Scared Stupid
5.9
executive producer
1991
Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
Ernest Goes to Jail
5.5
executive producer
1990
Jim Varney in Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Ernest Saves Christmas
5.8
executive producer
1988
Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
Ernest Goes to Camp
5.5
executive producer
1987
One Voice (1986)
One Voice
8.6
TV Special
executive producer
1986
Spasms (1983)
Spasms
4.4
executive producer
1983
Breathless (1983)
Breathless
6.0
produced by
1983
Geneviève Bujold in Coma (1978)
Coma
6.9
producer
1978
The Chevy Chase Show
5.7
TV Special
executive producer
1977
Barbra Streisand in For Pete's Sake (1974)
For Pete's Sake
6.2
producer
1974
Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments (1973)
Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments
7.7
TV Special
executive producer
1973
A Happening in Central Park (1968)
A Happening in Central Park
8.3
TV Special
executive producer
1968
Barbra Streisand in The Belle of 14th Street (1967)
The Belle of 14th Street
6.8
TV Special
executive producer
1967
Color Me Barbra (1966)
Color Me Barbra
8.2
TV Special
executive producer
1966
My Name Is Barbra (1965)
My Name Is Barbra
8.5
TV Special
executive producer
1965
Additional Crew
Sewer Shark (1992)
Sewer Shark
6.2
Video Game
chairman of the board
1992
Night Trap (1992)
Night Trap
6.2
Video Game
chairman of the board
1992
Spasms (1983)
Spasms
4.4
presenter
1983
Actor
Breathless (1983)
Breathless
6.0
Vegas Sharpy #2
1983
Barbra Streisand in For Pete's Sake (1974)
For Pete's Sake
6.2
Man in Theatre (as Martin Lee Erlichman)
1974
Production Management
Barbra Streisand in Up the Sandbox (1972)
Up the Sandbox
5.8
executive in charge of production: Barwood Films
1972
Music Department
Kristin Cassidy in Barbra Streisand: Cry Me a River (Live at
the Bon Soir) (2022)
Barbra Streisand: Cry Me a River (Live at the Bon Soir)
7.1
Music Video
music producer
2022
Thanks
Love to Love You, Donna Summer (2023)
Love to Love You, Donna Summer
6.6
special thanks (as Marty Erlichman)
2023
I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special (2001)
I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special
7.3
TV Special
special thanks
2001
The Way We Were: Looking Back
7.9
Video
special thanks
1999
Self
Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic! (2017)
Barbra: The Music... The Mem'ries... The Magic!
7.5
TV Special
SelfSelf - Barbra's Manager (as Marty Erlichman)
2017
Sid Bernstein in Sid Bernstein Presents... (2010)
Sid Bernstein Presents...
Self
2010
James Lipton in Inside the Actors Studio (1994)
Inside the Actors Studio
8.6
TV Series
Self
2004
1 episode
Cybill Shepherd and Jason Alexander in The 47th Annual
Primetime Emmy Awards (1995)
The 47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
7.3
TV Special
Self - Winner
1995
Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments (1973)
Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments
7.7
TV Special
Self - Washing Machine Player
1973
Barbra: Yesterday, Today and Forever!
6.8
Short
Self (uncredited)
1970
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