Philip Jay Berg[1] (February 15, 1902 – February 1, 1983) was an American talent agent who co-founded, with Bert Allenberg, the Berg-Allenberg talent agency, he was known for his movie package deals, a concept that changed Hollywood in the 1930s, he represented an empire of dozens of actors, directors and writers.
Phil Berg | |
|---|---|
| Born | Phillip Jay Berg February 15, 1902 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 1, 1983 (age 80) |
| Education | B.A. University of Pennsylvania |
| Known for | co-founding the Berg-Allenberg talent agency. |
| Spouses |
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Biography
editBerg was born in New York City on February 15, 1902.[2] He was of Jewish descent.[3] He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.[2] In 1924, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a talent agent, becoming a millionaire by the age of 26.[4] In 1927, he partnered with Bert Allenberg to form the Berg-Allenberg talent agency.[2] Berg created the concept of the "package deal" where he would find a script, a writer, actors, and a director; and then sold the entire package to a producer.[5] He represented such stars as Clark Gable, Judy Garland, Joan Crawford,[5] Lucille Ball, Wallace Beery, Walter Brennan, Olivia de Havilland, Joan Fontaine,[6][7] Melvyn Douglas, Walter Huston, Buster Keaton, Alan Ladd, Charles Laughton, and Edward G. Robinson; directors Frank Capra, Victor Fleming, Vincente Minnelli, Jean Renoir, and William Wellman; and writers Michael Arlen, James Hilton, Dalton Trumbo, and Rodgers and Hart.[2] He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.[4] He retired in 1947[5] to pursue his passion in archaeology.[4] In December 1949, the Berg-Allenberg Agency was acquired by the William Morris Agency.
Personal life
editIn 1927, he married actress Leila Hyams who predeceased him.[2] He remarried to Joan Hartley.[5] At age 80 in 1983, he died from heart failure, leaving his artifacts and fine art collection (valued at $1.5 million in 1969) to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Deceased Members of The Explorers Club, 1904 to 23 May 2007" (PDF). explorers.org. The Explorers Club. p. 5. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Phil Berg, a pioneer talent agent who represented such Hollywood stars as Clark Gable, Judy Garland and Joan Crawford, died Tuesday of heart failure. He was 80". United Press International. February 3, 1983.
- ^ Gabler, Neil (September 8, 1989). An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. Anchor Books. p. 276. ISBN 978-0385265577.
- ^ a b c "He's One Man Who Quit Hollywood". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. May 12, 1953.
- ^ a b c d "Phil Berg, 80, Talent Agent, Pioneered Movie Packages". The New York Times. February 4, 1983.
- ^ "U's Feldman Demurrer Is Sustained by Judge", The Film Daily July 2, 1948, p2
- ^ "Hollywood", The Film Daily March 4, 1948, p2