David Begelman

Who was David Begelman?

David Begelman was a Hollywood producer who was involved in a studio embezzlement scandal in the 1970s. He was the father of one daughter, Leslie Begelman.

Born in New York City, Begelman worked at the Music Corporation of America for more than 11 years, eventually becoming vice president. He left in 1960 to co-found the talent agency Creative Management Associates with Freddie Fields. Their clients included Jack Carter, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minnelli, Woody Allen, Richard Burton, Peter Sellers, Gregory Peck, Henry Fonda, Rock Hudson, Carol Channing, and others.

He left CMA in 1973 to take over the floundering Columbia Pictures. Begelman recruited big-name stars from his former company, dramatically changing the company's image by producing such hits as Tommy, Shampoo, Murder by Death, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Begelman became among the first Hollywood agents to cross over and rise to the top of the studio system.