Bernie Brillstein

Infobox Actor
bgcolour = silver
name =


birthname =
birthdate = April 26, 1931
location = New York City, New York
deathdate = August 7, 2008 (aged age|1931|4|26|2008|8|7)
deathplace = Los Angeles, California
spouse = Carrie Brillstein

Bernard J. "Bernie" Brillstein (Born April 26, 1931, in New York City, Died New York-August 7, 2008, in Los Angeles, California) was an American film and television producer and executive producer.

Life and career

Brillstein was born in Manhattan to Moe and Tillie Brillstein, who all shared the Manhattan home of his uncle, the vaudeville and radio performer Jack Pearl.

Brillstein graduated from New York University, and later served in the military. Brillstein earned his way into show business in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency (WMA) in New York. He worked his way up to talent agent and by the 1960s he was a manager-producer of television programming for the company. Still associated with WMA, in 1964 he joined Management III to continue talent management.cite web |url=http://www.wma.com/bernie_brillstein/bio/BERNIE_BRILLSTEIN.pdf |format=PDF |title=Bernie Brillstein Biography |accessdate=2007-11-01]

By now living in Los Angeles, Brillstein formed The Brillstein Company in 1969. There, he continued to manage stars and develop television programming. He produced such popular television hits as "Hee Haw", "The Muppet Show" [cite book |first=Frank |last=Rose |title=The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business |year=1995 |location=New York |publisher=Harper |pages=261, 415] and "Saturday Night Live."cite web| url=http://www.hoovers.com/brillstein-grey/--ID__104970--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml |title=Brillstein-Grey Entertainment |publisher=Hoovers |accessdate=2007-11-01]

Brillstein later became manager of SNL alums Gilda Radner, John Belushi, and Lorne Michaels, as well as Jim Henson (of Muppets fame) and Paul Fusco (voice and operator of "ALF"). He produced such other television shows as "", and "Normal Life."

In the 1980s, he met Brad Grey at a television convention in San Francisco, California. In 1991 the two formed a production company, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, which packages programming and manages talent. They were responsible for both "The Larry Sanders Show" and "The Sopranos" for HBO. As executive producer, Brillstein has been responsible for such successes as "The Blues Brothers", "Ghostbusters", "Dragnet", "Ghostbusters II", "Happy Gilmore" and "The Cable Guy". Brillstein sold his shares in the company to Grey, his one time protégé, in 1996. Grey sold his interest in the company in 2005.

Brillstein's 1999 memoir, "Where Did I Go Right?: You’re No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead", was co-written with David Rensin. Two years later, he received the honor as recipient of a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, on April 18, 2001.

On the evening of August 7, 2008, around 9:00pm, Brillstein died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a Los Angeles hospital.Cieply, Michael (August 8, 2008). [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/arts/television/09brillstein.html Bernie Brillstein, Film Producer, Dies.] "New York Times"] He is survived by his wife Carrie, daughters Leigh and Kate Brillstein, and three sons Michael Brillstein, David and Nick Koskoff.

Publications

* Bernie Brillstein with David Rensin (1999). "Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One In Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead!". Little Brown Inc. ISBN 978-0316118859 ( [http://www.nytimes.com/books/first/b/brillstein-right.html Chapter One online] )

References

External links

*
* [http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/rip-bernie-brillstein/ Obituary and memories - Nikki Finke]
* [http://www.laobserved.com/intell/2008/08/the_man_who_loved_show_busines_1.php The Man Who Loved Show Business by David Rensin.]

Persondata
NAME= Brillstein, Bernie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Film producer
DATE OF BIRTH= April 26, 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York
DATE OF DEATH= August 7, 2008 (aged age|1931|4|26|2008|8|7)
PLACE OF DEATH= Los Angeles, California

Category:Saturday Night Live