Legendary show business manager Marty Erlichman — the man who discovered Barbra Streisand and guided her career for more than 60 years — has died. He was 97, passing away October 31, 2026 in Los Angeles of age-related causes.
Marty Erlichman with Barbra Streisand at the 1995 Emmys (Credits: Getty Images)
Erlichman’s family announced his death in a press release Sunday, November 1. Streisand issued a heartbroken statement: “I truly thought he would live forever. Marty can never be replaced, and I will be forever grateful for his friendship, loyalty, and unwavering support.”
Marty Erlichman and Barbra Streisand: A 60-Year Handshake Partnership
Born Martin Lee Erlichman on September 13, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York, his life changed in 1961 when he saw a young singer named Barbra Streisand perform in a Manhattan nightclub. Convinced he’d found a once-in-a-generation talent, he bought out her existing management contract for $750 — money Streisand herself lent him.
As Streisand wrote in her 2023 memoir “My Name Is Barbra,” the two worked together for six decades and “never had a contract, just a handshake.” It was one of the longest and most celebrated partnerships in show business history — and Streisand never had another manager.
Erlichman handled the commercial machinery of her career: negotiating her recording, theater, film, television, licensing and concert deals, and conceiving and executive-producing her live work, including the 2000 Millennium Concert and the 2006-2007 world tour.
Emmy and Peabody Honors, Early Work With Folk Legends
Erlichman served as executive producer on all of Streisand’s television specials, including the multiple Emmy-winning classics “My Name Is Barbra” and “Color Me Barbra.” For the 1994 HBO special “Barbra: The Concert,” he won both an Emmy and a Peabody Award, plus Grammy and CableACE recognition over the years.
Beyond Streisand, his credits included managing the Irish folk groups The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Chevy Chase, and heavyweight champion George Foreman, plus producing films including the 1978 Michael Crichton thriller “Coma.”
He officially retired in March 2026 at 96. He is survived by his wife, Miko Mayama Erlichman, their son J.J., daughter-in-law Talia, and four grandchildren. Donations in his memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the National Kidney Foundation.
Also Read: Remembering Patrick Stewart: His Greatest Roles From Picard to Professor X
Source: Deadline — read the full story there.
