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The Characters Talent Agency

Full company profile

uuid000tdkq

Namestring
The Characters Talent Agency
Legal namestring
The Characters Talent Agency
Websiteurl
thecharacters.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
1970
Descriptiontext

The Characters Talent Agency is a Canadian talent representation firm founded in 1969 (with one source citing 1970) by Larry Goldhar and headquartered in Vancouver. It represents actors, directors, producers, writers, and other entertainment professionals across film, television, commercial, voice-over, and literary production categories, and has expanded into a dedicated children's talent track.

The agency operates from three offices: Vancouver (its western hub, led by founder Larry Goldhar), Toronto (the eastern hub under President Jennifer Goldhar, with Ryan Goldhar serving as VP of Film & Television), and Calgary (under senior agent Jayson Marshall). It is family-owned across generations of the Goldhar family and maintains active membership in the Talent Agents and Managers Association of Canada (TAMAC), anchoring it within the industry's collective bargaining framework.

Revenue is generated on a commission basis against talent bookings, the standard model for licensed talent agencies, with intake now handled through a structured online submission portal organized by category. The agency employs between 11 and 50 people, and recent public placements include Paramount+ series Boston Blue, Sheriff Country, and Off Campus. There is no disclosed technology stack, AI tooling, or external funding; the business is run as a private, relationship-driven firm.

Short descriptiontext

The Characters Talent Agency is a family-owned Canadian firm founded in 1969 that represents actors, directors, writers, and producers across film, television, commercial, voice-over, and children's categories from offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, operating on a commission-based model.

Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
HQ citystring
Vancouver
HQ countrystring
Canada
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices3 records

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
talent representation, talent agency services, actor representation, entertainment industry services, performer booking
Industry3 codes
1Full-Service Artist Management
CodeMPAIAGAAPrimaryYes
2Talent Agency & Representation Services
CodeHSACAHAKPrimaryNo
3Entertainment Booking & Speaker/Talent Management
CodeHSACAAAIPrimaryNo
NAICS code3 codes
  • Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures7114
  • Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures711410
  • Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures71141
SIC code1 code
  • Services-Employment Agencies7361
Product category
Talent Agency
GTM motion1 record

Each record includes

Type, Description, Source

Revenue model1 record
1Commission-based talent representation
TypeTransaction Fee
Description

The agency operates solely on commission basis, charging talent a percentage of bookings secured. No fees are charged for joining the roster. Reputable talent agencies never charge any sort of fees for joining their roster.

thecharacters.com
Marketing channels2 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

The Characters Talent Agency is a talent representation agency that represents performers for work in the entertainment industry. The agency's specific representation categories, divisions, and detailed service lines are not described in the supplied input.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product overview1 text field

The Characters Talent Agency is a talent representation agency offering a unified suite of services for entertainment industry professionals. The agency provides four core service lines: Film & Television Representation, Animation & Narration Services, Commercial Representation, and Literary & Production Representation. The agency operates through two geographic divisions—Characters West (Vancouver) and Characters East (Toronto)—each with specialized agents. Supporting these core services, the agency maintains submission processes for different talent categories (Film/TV/Commercial, Voice-Over, and Literary/Production), allowing talent to apply for representation through division-specific email contacts.

Product and service1 record
1Talent Representation Services
Scale indicator3 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Partnership1 partner
1TAMAC (Talent Agent & Managers Association of Canada)
Strategic tierCoreTypeOthers
Description

The agency is a member of TAMAC. As a TAMAC agency, they are limited in the number of non-union talent they are able to represent. TAMAC is the professional association for talent agents and managers in Canada.

Recent move5 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight5 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers6 records
1Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Global mega-agency representing actors, directors, writers, and producers across film, TV, and voice. Comparable to Characters in core service categories, but operates at vastly larger scale with offices worldwide, including significant Canadian presence that competes for the same talent pool.

2Gersh Agency
TypeDirect peer
Description

Full-service talent agency representing actors, writers, directors, and producers in film, TV, theatre, and commercials. Closely mirrors Characters' service portfolio and boutique-but-established positioning, though based in Los Angeles with a primarily US roster.

3William Morris Endeavor (WME)
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Major global talent and literary agency representing actors, directors, writers, and producers across all entertainment verticals. Direct competitor for Canadian A-list talent; has expanded Canadian operations in Vancouver and Toronto, overlapping with Characters' geographic footprint.

4Innovative Artists
TypeDirect peer
Description

Boutique talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, and producers in film, TV, voice, and commercial work. Comparable scale and service mix to Characters, focused primarily on the North American market with a similar commission-based model.

5United Talent Agency (UTA)
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Global talent and literary agency with full-service representation across film, TV, theatre, voice, and literary. Comparable service lines to Characters and an aggressive acquirer of boutique Canadian agencies, making it both a direct competitor and a potential consolidation threat.

6Premier Artists Management
TypeDirect peer
Description

Vancouver-based talent agency representing actors and performers across film, TV, and voice. Direct local competitor for Characters West's roster and clients in the British Columbia production market.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat4 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights6 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Named customers1 record

Each record includes

Name, Industry, Type, Use case, Source, UUID

Segment4 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

The Characters Talent Agency

Talent Agencythecharacters.com

The Characters Talent Agency is a family-owned Canadian firm founded in 1969 that represents actors, directors, writers, and producers across film, television, commercial, voice-over, and children's categories from offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, operating on a commission-based model.

What The Characters Talent Agency does

The Characters Talent Agency is a Canadian talent representation firm founded in 1969 (with one source citing 1970) by Larry Goldhar and headquartered in Vancouver. It represents actors, directors, producers, writers, and other entertainment professionals across film, television, commercial, voice-over, and literary production categories, and has expanded into a dedicated children's talent track.

The agency operates from three offices: Vancouver (its western hub, led by founder Larry Goldhar), Toronto (the eastern hub under President Jennifer Goldhar, with Ryan Goldhar serving as VP of Film & Television), and Calgary (under senior agent Jayson Marshall). It is family-owned across generations of the Goldhar family and maintains active membership in the Talent Agents and Managers Association of Canada (TAMAC), anchoring it within the industry's collective bargaining framework.

Revenue is generated on a commission basis against talent bookings, the standard model for licensed talent agencies, with intake now handled through a structured online submission portal organized by category. The agency employs between 11 and 50 people, and recent public placements include Paramount+ series Boston Blue, Sheriff Country, and Off Campus. There is no disclosed technology stack, AI tooling, or external funding; the business is run as a private, relationship-driven firm.

The Characters Talent Agency firmographics

Firmographics
Name
The Characters Talent Agency
Legal name
The Characters Talent Agency
Website
https://thecharacters.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
1970
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
The Characters Talent Agency is a family-owned Canadian firm founded in 1969 that represents actors, directors, writers, and producers across film, television, commercial, voice-over, and children's categories from offices in Vancouver, Toronto, and Calgary, operating on a commission-based model.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

The Characters Talent Agency industry classification

Industry
Product category
Talent Agency
NAICS
Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (7114), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (711410), Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures (71141)
SIC
Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
akta.pro primary industry
Full-Service Artist Management (MPAIAGAA)
akta.pro secondary industries
Talent Agency & Representation Services (HSACAHAK), Entertainment Booking & Speaker/Talent Management (HSACAAAI)

Keywords

  • Talent representation
  • Talent agency services
  • Actor representation
  • Entertainment industry services
  • Performer booking

Where The Characters Talent Agency is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Vancouver
HQ country
Canada
HQ region
North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

The Characters Talent Agency business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Services

Revenue model

  1. Commission-based talent representation: The agency operates solely on commission basis, charging talent a percentage of bookings secured. No fees are charged for joining the roster. Reputable talent agencies never charge any sort of fees for joining their roster.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

The Characters Talent Agency product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The Characters Talent Agency is a talent representation agency that represents performers for work in the entertainment industry. The agency's specific representation categories, divisions, and detailed service lines are not described in the supplied input.

Product overview

The Characters Talent Agency is a talent representation agency offering a unified suite of services for entertainment industry professionals. The agency provides four core service lines: Film & Television Representation, Animation & Narration Services, Commercial Representation, and Literary & Production Representation. The agency operates through two geographic divisions—Characters West (Vancouver) and Characters East (Toronto)—each with specialized agents. Supporting these core services, the agency maintains submission processes for different talent categories (Film/TV/Commercial, Voice-Over, and Literary/Production), allowing talent to apply for representation through division-specific email contacts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Talent Representation Services

Companies that use The Characters Talent Agency

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

The Characters Talent Agency technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

The Characters Talent Agency partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

  • TAMAC (Talent Agent & Managers Association of Canada)coreOthersThe agency is a member of TAMAC. As a TAMAC agency, they are limited in the number of non-union talent they are able to represent. TAMAC is the professional association for talent agents and managers in Canada.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

The Characters Talent Agency competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

  • Creative Artists Agency (CAA): Global mega-agency representing actors, directors, writers, and producers across film, TV, and voice. Comparable to Characters in core service categories, but operates at vastly larger scale with offices worldwide, including significant Canadian presence that competes for the same talent pool.
  • William Morris Endeavor (WME): Major global talent and literary agency representing actors, directors, writers, and producers across all entertainment verticals. Direct competitor for Canadian A-list talent; has expanded Canadian operations in Vancouver and Toronto, overlapping with Characters' geographic footprint.
  • United Talent Agency (UTA): Global talent and literary agency with full-service representation across film, TV, theatre, voice, and literary. Comparable service lines to Characters and an aggressive acquirer of boutique Canadian agencies, making it both a direct competitor and a potential consolidation threat.

Direct peers

  • Gersh Agency: Full-service talent agency representing actors, writers, directors, and producers in film, TV, theatre, and commercials. Closely mirrors Characters' service portfolio and boutique-but-established positioning, though based in Los Angeles with a primarily US roster.
  • Innovative Artists: Boutique talent and literary agency representing actors, writers, directors, and producers in film, TV, voice, and commercial work. Comparable scale and service mix to Characters, focused primarily on the North American market with a similar commission-based model.
  • Premier Artists Management: Vancouver-based talent agency representing actors and performers across film, TV, and voice. Direct local competitor for Characters West's roster and clients in the British Columbia production market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

The Characters Talent Agency social profiles

Digital presence

The Characters Talent Agency financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

The Characters Talent Agency leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

The Characters Talent Agency funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

The Characters Talent Agency M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Characters Talent Agency

What does The Characters Talent Agency do?

The Characters Talent Agency is a talent representation agency that represents performers for work in the entertainment industry. The agency's specific representation categories, divisions, and detailed service lines are not described in the supplied input.

Is The Characters Talent Agency a public or private company?

The Characters Talent Agency is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.

When was The Characters Talent Agency founded?

The Characters Talent Agency was founded in 1970. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is The Characters Talent Agency based?

The Characters Talent Agency is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.

How does The Characters Talent Agency make money?

One revenue line is on record: commission-based talent representation.

Who are The Characters Talent Agency's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Creative Artists Agency (CAA), William Morris Endeavor (WME) and United Talent Agency (UTA). Direct peers are Gersh Agency, Innovative Artists and Premier Artists Management.

Does The Characters Talent Agency have an API?

No public API is recorded for The Characters Talent Agency.

What industry is The Characters Talent Agency in?

The Characters Talent Agency's product category is Talent Agency. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAGAA, Full-Service Artist Management, with a secondary code of HSACAHAK, Talent Agency & Representation Services. Its NAICS code is 7114 and its SIC code is 7361.

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