Courtesy of APA
One of the founders of the Agency for the Performing Arts, Roger Vorce, passed away on April 30 at the age of 88. Vorce launched APA in 1962 alongside former MCA executives David Baumgarten and Harvey Litwin.
“Nobody loved working with talent more than Roger,” James Gosnell, President and CEO of APA, said in a statement. “Through his devotion to our company, he allows us to stand on his shoulders. We come to work every day proud to continue his legacy.”
Vorce grew up in Bedford, Massachusetts and attended college at Notre Dame where he became a lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish. After graduation he enlisted in the Navy and became an ensign first class on the Admiral’s ship, The U.S.S. Agamemnon. Shortly after his honorable discharge, Vorce began his entertainment career at MCA in New York, where he trained under the watchful eye of the legendary Lew Wasserman, whose famous motto was, “Don’t judge ‘em, book ‘em.” Vorce became an agent at MCA in 1957.
Five years later, he would launch APA with David Baumgarten and Harvey Litwin. Headquartered in New York, he would go on to represent some of the biggest names in entertainment including Liberace, Johnny Cash, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Harry Belafonte, Michael Feinstein, Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, George Hamilton, Diahann Carroll, Peggy Lee, Marlene Dietrich, Ginger Rogers, Victor Borge and Peter Allen, among others.
In 1993, following the death of then agency President, Marty Klein, Vorce relocated to the Los Angeles office where he assumed the role of President of APA. He continued to serve in that capacity until 1997 when he was named CEO.
The Chairman Emeritus of APA is survived by his sister, Mary Lee Stenstrom. A celebration of Roger Vorce’s life will be announced at a later date.