Merritt Blake

Merritt Blake was an American talent agent.

Blake began his career in 1962 in the mailroom of MCA, the traditional entryway for aspiring agents. He went on to become an agent in-training at General Artists Corporation under the supervision of Martin Baum, and then gained experience working with Hugh French and Jerry Perenchio at Chartwell Artists.

In 1970, he hung out his own shingle, forming The Blake Agency. It quickly gained a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most respected boutique talent agencies, representing numerous Oscar and Emmy winners.

His client list included Gene Wilder, Burl Ives, Robert Duvall, Robert Reed, and James Whitmore. He later represented Leonard Nimoy, Brooke Shields, Robert Stack, Brian Keith, Robert Urich, Elaine Stritch, Tyne Daly, Katharine Ross, Maximilian Schell, Wilford Brimley, Rip Torn, Geraldine Page, Rene Auberjonois, John Rubinstein, Leslie Caron, and Laurence Fishburne III.

Blake was a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, and served on the board of directors of the Association of Talent Agents.

Blake died February 25, 2018. He was 82.