Outstanding Alum: Exceptional Professional Success
Joel Gotler is arguably one of the nation's top literary agents, serving as the founder and CEO of the Intellectual Property Group in Los Angeles.
Having studied speech and drama at UHart—where he worked behind the scenes on several productions—Gotler more or less fell into his business at the urging of a friend who was aware of his indecisiveness about what the future would hold. He began as an assistant at the William Morris Agency in New York City and was made an agent after signing popular singer Mama Cass Elliot to the agency's roster of clients.
Gotler's client list over recent decades is among the most impressive in the business, including authors Sue Grafton, Frank McCourt, James Ellroy, and Michael Connelly. The film properties he helped launch include Angela's Ashes, Chocolat, Indecent Proposal, The Wolf of Wall Street, and Mr. Popper's Penguins, the latter two on which he also served as executive producer. He has also been instrumental in deals for media personalities such as Sting, Fran Drescher, Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner.
For 50 years, Gotler has used his innate gifts to keep his agency at the pinnacle of the competitive industry. These gifts include his ability to recognize properties that could be successful on the big or small screen, and his skill in persuading studio executives, writers, and other entertainment personnel of the value of listening to his ideas and advice.