A talent agent is professional who represents writers, actors, directors and other creative artists in the entertainment industry. The main job of a talent agent is to get their clients work. Within that, talent agents will be on the front lines of negotiating deal terms on behalf of the client. However it is an attorney, not an agent, who will finalize a deal with the studios business affairs. Talent agents work within specific departments at talent agencies which encompasses the collective group of departments and agents.
Some of the most famous talent agents include Lew Wasserman, Michael Ovitz, Sue Mengers, Ron Meyer, Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Richard Lovett, Ari Emanuel, Patrick Whitesell, Jeremy Zimmer and Jim Toth.
The top talent agencies are William Morris Endeavor (WME), United Talent Agency (UTA) and Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
FAQ: Do talent agents need a law degree? No, talent agents do not require a law degree. Most agencies require a 4 year bachelors degree in order to get hired.