Billy Sammeth
(December 3, 1951 ? June 18, 2018) was an American
talent manager
, writer, and
television producer
and personality.
Early life
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Billy Sammeth was born December 3, 1951, in
Brooklyn, New York
. At the age of twelve, he moved with his family to California, where Sammeth's father, Philip, was an executive at
Walt Disney Productions
, pioneering the character merchandising division (licensing the
Davy Crockett
Coonskin Cap
to then unknown toy company,
Mattel
).
[1]
Career
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Management
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In 1969, only a week after beginning college in
Columbus, Ohio
, Sammeth sustained a
brain concussion
from a
horseback riding
injury and was sent home to his parents in California on a medical leave of absence. His father soon arranged a job for him in the mail room of a public relations firm in
Hollywood
that represented many celebrity personalities including
The Osmond Brothers
. Sammeth and the Osmond Brothers became fast friends and Sammeth continued to work with the Osmond Brothers as their public relations representative
[2]
even while attending school.
Sammeth dropped out of college in 1971 and began work at
MGM
records for
Mike Curb
. Soon after,
Osmondmania
became a worldwide phenomena, and at the age of 21, he was credited with launching the Osmondmania craze in teenage publications throughout the world. writing weekly articles under Donny's name, making all traveling arrangements, touring with the Osmonds and overseeing the licensing of everything from Osmond lunch boxes, pillow cases, bubble gum and Halloween costumes.
[3]
In 1973, Sammeth joined the highly respected
Katz-Gallin Enterprises, Personal Management Firm
that not only represented the Osmonds, but many of the biggest names in Hollywood. He eventually began managing the careers of
Joan Rivers
,
Cher
,
Olivia Newton-John
,
Lily Tomlin
,
Dolly Parton
, and many others.
[3]
He soon became the scale show booker for Katz-Gallin, booking clients on shows such as
Hollywood Squares
,
The Merv Griffin Show
, the
Mike Douglas Show
,
Dinah!
, and
The Tonight Show
.
In 1983, Sammeth left Katz-Gallin and set up his own agency,
The Bill Sammeth Organization
, which is still in existence. His first clients were Cher,
[4]
Joan Rivers,
[5]
Olivia Newton-John and
KC and the Sunshine Band
.
[3]
Television and Writing
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Sammeth appeared on
ITV’s
Soapstar Superstar
with
Cilla Black
, where he was referred to as the "American
Simon Cowell
", and his no holds barred commentary led him to be known as “that over the top, over opinionated American Manager” in the English dailies. On Sammeth’s very first show, he took exception to contestant Wendy Peters wardrobe, and advised her to accentuate the positive and to cover up the negative, “like your arms”, which led to immediate press for the show and Sammeth.
[6]
For the second season, the judging team consisted of Sammeth,
Martine McCutcheon
, and
Michael Ball
.
Sammeth also wrote for
The Late Show
starring Joan Rivers
which aired on
Fox
from 1986 to 1988. He executive produced the TV Movie
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
[7]
in 1985, as well
Cher...at the Mirage
[8]
in 1990. He also appeared in the documentary
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
.
[9]
Sammeth's memoir was released in 2013.
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]
[10]
Lawsuits
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In 1999, after being fired by Cher, days before singing the national anthem at the
Super Bowl
, Sammeth sued the singer/actress for "unspecified damages", claiming that he was to receive 15% of the profits of Cher's album
Believe
.
[11]
Sammeth sued Joan Rivers for defamation and owed money,
[12]
after he was fired directly after Rivers' win on
The Celebrity Apprentice
. He claims that her portrayal of him as the "missing manager" in her documentary
Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work
was defamatory to his career and that she owed him money for expenses he covered with his own credit cards during the filming of
Celebrity Apprentice
.
[10]
Awards and nominations
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Sammeth was nominated as
Personal Manager of the Year
in the
Pollstar Awards
and was awarded
Personal Manager of the Year
by the
Conference of Personal Managers
in 1985.
[13]
References
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