Shep Gordon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shep Gordon
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| Born | October 18, 1945 |
| Alma mater | University at Buffalo |
| Occupation | Talent manager, film agent, film producer |
| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Marcy Hanson
(m. 1980; div. 1982)Renée Loux
(m. 2005; div. 2011) |
| Relatives | Benjamin Gordon (son) |
Shep E. Gordon (born October 18, 1945) is an American talent manager, Hollywood film agent, and producer. A talent manager helps artists with their careers. A film agent helps actors get roles. A producer helps make movies.
Shep Gordon is well-known for his work with many famous people. He is featured in a 2013 documentary film called Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon. A documentary is a movie that tells a true story. This film was directed by Mike Myers.
Contents
Life and Education
Shep Gordon was born in 1945 in Jackson Heights, Queens. This is a part of New York City. He grew up in a Jewish family.
In 1968, he earned a college degree in sociology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Sociology is the study of how people live and interact in groups. After college, he studied more at The New School for Social Research. Later, he moved to Los Angeles, California. There, he worked as a probation officer, helping people who had been in trouble with the law.
Career Highlights
Music Career
Shep Gordon started his career in music in 1968. He was introduced to the band Alice Cooper by the famous musician Jimi Hendrix. Shep and his partner Joe Greenberg began to manage the band.
Over the years, Shep Gordon worked with many other popular music artists. Some of these include Pink Floyd, Blondie, Alice Cooper, Teddy Pendergrass, and Luther Vandross. He also managed Frankie Valli, George Clinton, and the Pointer Sisters.
Shep also partnered with musicians on other projects. He worked with Sammy Hagar from the band Van Halen to create Cabo Wabo Tequila. He also teamed up with Willie Nelson to create Old Whiskey River Bourbon.
Culinary Career
In 1993, Shep Gordon started a new company called Alive Culinary Resources. This was the first company to represent chefs. He helped chefs become famous, much like he did with musicians. Emeril Lagasse, a well-known chef, said that Shep "single-handedly created celebrity chefs."
Shep worked with many top chefs. Some of his clients included Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Daniel Boulud, and Nobu Matsuhisa. He helped these chefs become household names.
He also became a partner in famous restaurants. These include Tribeca Grill and Spice Market. He also helped create Maui Tacos, a restaurant chain. Shep Gordon and chef Roy Yamaguchi were also partners in Outback Steakhouse restaurants in Hawaii.
Speaking Engagements
Shep Gordon has shared his experiences at many events. He has spoken at SXSW and Summit at Sea. In 2015, he gave a special speech to graduating students at The Culinary Institute of America.
Film Career
Shep Gordon also had a successful career in movies. His first film as a producer was The Duellists in 1977. This movie won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, which is a very important film festival in France.
He then started one of the first independent film companies in the U.S., called Alive Films. They made movies like Roadie (1980). Later, Alive Films partnered with Island Records to create Island Alive. They made and shared films such as Koyaanisqatsi and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Shep Gordon was also an Executive Producer for horror films. These included Wes Craven's Shocker and John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness.
In 2013, Mike Myers directed a documentary about Shep's life. It was called Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon. Famous people like Michael Douglas, Alice Cooper, and Willie Nelson appeared in the film.
Shep Gordon also wrote a book about his life. It is called They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock 'n' Roll. The book was released in 2016 and became a New York Times Best Seller.
Awards and Recognition
Shep Gordon has received many awards for his work. Here are some of them:
- University at Buffalo Distinguished Alumni Award
- Hawaii Restaurant Association Hall Of Fame Inductee
- Maui Film Festival Maverick Award
- Fest Forward Lifetime Achievement Award
- National Conference of Personal Managers Hall of Fame Inductee
- Tibet Fund Friend of Tibet Award
- Hawaii European Cinema Maverick Award
- Hawaii Food And Wine Festival Honoree
- The Culinary Institute of America Leadership Award
Philanthropy
Shep Gordon is also known for his charity work. He helps lead the Tibet Fund, an organization that supports the people of Tibet. He has even had the honor of cooking for the Dalai Lama, who is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
He helped organize visits for the Dalai Lama to the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2006 and to Maui in 2007. Shep also hosts an annual dinner in Maui to raise money for good causes. Since 2008, he has helped provide over 1,000,000 meals for people who need them.
Shep Gordon is also a board member for The Maui Arts and Cultural Center and Reel FX. In 2017, he became a trustee for The Culinary Institute of America.
Personal Life
In 1973, Shep Gordon became close with a woman named Winona Williams and her daughter, Mia. Their bond continued even after his relationship with Winona ended. Sadly, Mia passed away in 1991. After her passing, Shep adopted Mia's four children: Monique, Chase, Amber, and Keira. Shep and his current wife, Katie, welcomed a son named Benjamin in 2021.
See also
In Spanish: Shep Gordon para niños
