Sherry Robb, Literary Agent, Talent Manager and Producer, Dies at 81

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81-year-old Sherry Robb, an influential figure in the literary world as a literary agent, talent manager, and producer, who made her mark over a half-century in publishing, television, and cinema, has passed away.

Robb, who fought against congestive heart disease for twenty years, passed away on February 14th. A memorial service is scheduled for 1:30 PM on June 9th at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Or, in a more conversational style:

Sadly, Robb lost his long battle with congestive heart disease on Valentine’s Day this year. We will remember him at a memorial service on June 9th, held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery at 1:30 PM.

Robb played a significant role in getting the true-crime book “Zodiac” by Robert Graysmith published back in 1986. This book, which delved into the unsolved serial murders that took place in San Francisco during the late 1960s, served as inspiration for David Fincher’s movie “Zodiac,” released in 2007, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., and Mark Ruffalo.

Apart from that, she significantly contributed to kick-starting Ronald D. Moore’s career as a screenwriter, which includes hits like “Battlestar Galactica” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”. Notably, she managed to sell his initial two scripts to Paramount.

Inspired by thoughts that Robb conceived during Betty White’s discussion about how her pets aided in her recovery following the passing of her husband, Allen Ludden (on Password), she authored Pet Love, a 1983 book which ignited the actress’s successful literary journey.

Additionally, she played a significant role in shaping Mary Wilson’s 1986 memoir, “Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme“, which is among the top-selling music autobiographies ever published.

Among the many new writers she mentored throughout her lengthy career, the singer and White were merely a couple of the over 100 individuals who penned their very first books under Robb’s guidance.

Following her graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from Whittier College and a Master’s in Social Work from Smith College, Sherry Ann Robb began her career as a therapist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and an instructor at Boston State College, Tufts University, and the University of Massachusetts.

For five years starting from 1976, she worked for a significant publishing company based in New York City. After that, she partnered with Bart Andrews, who had authored a book on TV’s “I Love Lucy” in 1976, to establish the literary firm, Andrews & Robb Agency, in 1981.

In 1989, she parted ways with Andrews, which paved the way for her to start her own enterprise, AFH Talent Agency. Later in 2003, she established The Robb Co., a specialized management company focusing on acting and writing talent representation.

In the year 2020, she established the Robb Squad Film Company together with director Marc Martinez. This venture led her to produce the 2024 film titled “The Memory in My Heart“, a project that allowed her to showcase her roster of talents through unique content and ultimately realized her dream.

In 2019, Robb was inducted into the Personal Manager’s Hall of Fame. Additionally, he has worked as a judge for UCLA’s Screenplay Competition Showcase and provided consultation services for the filmmaking program at the University of Southern California.

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2025-05-31 21:24