Co-founder of the Belg-Allenberg talent agency
Phil Berg
Born Phillip Jay Berg
February 15, 1902New 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
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.
Biography
Berg 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
In 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
^
"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