Michael Ovitz’s Creative Artists talent agency was a fortress on the Hollywood landscape and was revered for its ability to make or break the careers of actors. Ovitz left in the 90s, but Creative Artists has been able to continue its legacy of directing the constellation of stars and starlettes, until recently when it got a poke in the eye from a smaller competitor who is seizing some of Creative Agency’s main commodities, like Will Ferrell and Chris Pratt.
Creative Artists is suing United Talent Agency over the departure of 10 agents, and with them, the talent on their lists. Creative Artists calls this move, according to the New York Times, “a lawless, midnight raid.” While there were 10 agents who left, the lawsuit is against two of them, since they are considered ringleaders of an “illegal and unethical conspiracy.” Gregory Cavic and Gregory McKnight were accused of starting the ball rolling. In addition, the offending agents allegedly kept clients from crucial meetings and held up contracts.
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Creative Artists is still at the top of the heap, but United Artists is gaining on it. While the case is going on, Creative Artists wants a restraining order on agents who worked for Creative to stop serving clients they had at Creative.
Creative Artists was founded in 1975 by Michael Ovitz, who grew up in Jewish neighborhood in Chicago. He worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios and in the mail room at the William Morris Agency, until he rose up the ranks and started his own agency.
