David Lawrence Geffen (b.1943) is an American record producer, manager, label owner, and film producer. He is one of Hollywood’s most influential all-around dealmakers and one of the wealthiest people in the entertainment industry.
Born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York City, Geffen began his entertainment career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency (WMA) talent agency and got familiar with everyone there. He quickly became a talent agent, signing and managing rock ‘n’ roll artists, starting with songwriter, singer, and pianist Laura Nyro.
After signing a few artists with Atlantic Records, he co-created Asylum Records in 1971 with Elliot Roberts; they sold Asylum to the Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA) distribution company two years later. Geffen also started Geffen Records in 1980 and DGC Records in 1990. Geffen was highly adept at spotting and promoting talent. In less than five years, Geffen Records became the third most prominent label in the recording industry; Geffen sold it to MCA in 1990.
Geffen also produced and developed several highly acclaimed movies and Broadway productions. He started the film distributor and production company Geffen Film Company (later Geffen Pictures) in 1982. He produced successful, famous movies such as Risky Business (1983,) Little Shop of Horrors (1986,) Beetlejuice (1988,) and Interview with the Vampire (1994.) In 1994, Geffen started the DreamWorks SKG movie studio with Steven Spielberg, Mo Ostin, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Geffen’s biography is Tom King’s The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys and Sells the New Hollywood (2000.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by David L. Geffen
Anyone who thinks money will make you happy doesn’t have money. Happiness is more difficult to obtain than money.
—David L. Geffen
The opportunity for an entrepreneur to start a company from scratch today is abysmal.
—David L. Geffen
Topics: Entrepreneurs
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