Anne Becker

Gavin de Becker is an American security specialist and author, known for his work advising and protecting high-profile individuals and organizations. He founded Gavin de Becker and Associates in 1978, a firm that has served governments, corporations, and public figures. De Becker's early life was marked by significant hardship, including his mother's struggles with addiction and her eventual suicide, leading him to live with the family of actors José Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney. His career includes co-designing threat assessment systems like MOSAIC with the U.S. Marshals Service and providing security consultations for numerous celebrities and government agencies. He has also served on presidential advisory boards and advised organizations like the Rand Corporation. De Becker's 1997 book, 'The Gift of Fear,' became a bestseller, offering insights into survival signals and threat assessment. He has also authored 'Just 2 Seconds' and has been involved in high-profile investigations, including the aftermath of Jeff Bezos' phone hack and the murder of Ennis Cosby. De Becker has also engaged in philanthropy, founding Patient Pets and funding the Naqaqa Giving Foundation.

Gavin de Becker is a recognized expert in security and threat assessment. In the 1980s, he collaborated with the United States Marshals Service to develop the MOSAIC threat assessment systems, a tool utilized to evaluate potential threats to Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and senior CIA officials. This system was later adopted by Los Angeles County law enforcement to help manage and reduce domestic abuse cases that could escalate to homicide. De Becker's firm has provided services to a wide array of celebrities, including Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda, investigating stalkers and offering security advice. He has been appointed twice to the President's Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of Justice and has advised organizations like the Rand Corporation and the School of Public Policy at UCLA. His expertise has been sought in high-profile cases, including advising on the prosecution of Robert Bardo for the murder of Rebecca Schaeffer and consulting on the O.J. Simpson cases.

De Becker is widely known for his authorship, most notably 'The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence,' published in 1997, which reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. This book explores how intuition and subtle cues can signal danger, a theme that has resonated widely and even influenced portrayals in film and television. He also co-authored 'Just 2 Seconds,' a guide for individuals responsible for protecting others. His work and reputation have led to numerous cultural references, with characters in shows like 'Twin Peaks' and 'Entourage' referencing him or his methods. De Becker has also been a public advocate, defending figures like Mel Gibson against accusations of anti-Semitism and providing eulogies for friends like Garry Shandling and Carrie Fisher. His philanthropic efforts include founding Patient Pets and funding the Naqaqa Giving Foundation, which supports disadvantaged populations in Fiji and southern Africa.

Gavin de Becker's personal life has been marked by significant events and notable associations. He is the son of Hal de Becker, a dancer and writer on dance. De Becker has spoken about a childhood marked by violence, including his parents' divorce, his mother's struggles with heroin addiction and abuse, and her suicide when he was sixteen. He subsequently lived with the family of actor Miguel Ferrer, son of José Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney, and later worked as Rosemary Clooney's road manager and Elizabeth Taylor's assistant. De Becker has been romantically linked to singer Alanis Morissette and actress Geena Davis. He has been married since 2007 with two sons and has also raised eight adopted children. He maintained friendships with notable figures such as George Harrison, who reportedly died at de Becker's home, and Brooke Shields, with whom he has discussed her experiences with sexual assault. He and novelist Bruce Wagner officiated at the wedding of Carrie Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd.