Gayle Nachlis, longtime agent at William Morris Agency and former executive director at Women in Film, has died. She was 72.
Nachlis died April 21 in her home surrounded by family after a battle with throat cancer, according to Women in Film.
After attending UC Berkeley and graduating from UCLA with a degree in theater art, Nachlis joined William Morris Agency in 1975 as an agent in the theater department. She eventually worked her way into the motion picture department before becoming the vice president of the television sector. She represented Hector Elizondo, Jean Smart and Jennifer Love Hewitt, among many others.
After 30 years with WMA, Nachlis became the executive director and senior director of education at Women in Film, a nonprofit that works to advance the careers of women in entertainment. During her time at WIF, Nachlis spearheaded strong foundational work and advanced programs in mentorship, funding and research.
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“Gayle had an infectious joy about her. From the board room to youth soccer sidelines to cocktail parties, Gayle was the person you wanted to be next to,” her family said in a statement. “She always had the answer to any question, from ‘who was that actor that was in that one thing?’ to ‘where are my keys?’ to ‘what’s a six letter word for ‘difficult’?'”
Nachlis was predeceased by her husband Marvin Nachlis and father Arnold Rosenbluth. She is survived by her children Alex Nachlis and Sara Vassar, grandchildren Rosalind and Cai, mother Ruth Tumpowsky and sisters Meryl Adler and Barbara.
