Marty Erlichman, Barbra Streisand’s Longtime Manager, Dies at 97

Marty Erlichman, the manager who helped shape Barbra Streisand’s career across more than six decades, has died at 97. His family said he died Saturday from age-related causes, bringing to a close one of the longest and most consequential artist-manager partnerships in modern entertainment.

Erlichman first encountered Streisand when she was an 18-year-old opening act at a performance by comedian Phil Leeds. He recognized her singular voice and presence early, then became the steady business partner behind a career that expanded from New York nightclubs and Broadway to records, film, television and live performance.

In a family statement reported by entertainment outlets, his relatives remembered him not only as a Hollywood figure but as a devoted husband, father and grandfather. That distinction matters because Erlichman’s public profile was always quieter than that of the star he represented. His work was most visible through the continuity and range of Streisand’s career rather than through celebrity of his own.

A partnership that crossed entertainment eras

The relationship survived major shifts in the industry, from the dominance of physical records and network television to the modern streaming era. Erlichman remained associated with Streisand as she accumulated landmark recordings, acting roles, directing credits and awards. His role connected the early discovery of a young performer with the long-term management of an established global star.

Erlichman also worked with other acts, including the folk musicians the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. Even so, his professional legacy is inseparable from Streisand, whose career he helped guide for more than 60 years.

The news was reported independently by multiple major entertainment publications, with the family’s statement providing the central confirmation. Funeral or memorial details were not immediately announced in the reports reviewed. Erlichman’s death leaves behind a management story defined less by short-term dealmaking than by trust, endurance and the sustained development of one of entertainment’s most recognizable careers.