Bernie Brillstein

Bernard Jules Brillstein[1] (April 26, 1931 – August 7, 2008) was an American film and television producer, executive producer, and talent agent.

Bernie Brillstein
Born
Bernard Jules Brillstein

(1931-04-26)April 26, 1931
New York City, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 2008(2008-08-07) (aged 77)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Alma materNew York University
Spouses
Laura Smith
(m. 1967)
    Deborah Ellen Koskoff
    (m. 1975)
      Carrie Winston
      (m. 1998)

      He began his career in the 1950s at the William Morris Agency before founding his own company in 1969 and later joining forces with Brad Grey to helm Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (now Brillstein Entertainment Partners), one of the most important and influential Hollywood talent management and production companies. He is remembered for producing successful TV programs like Hee Haw, The Muppet Show, and The Sopranos, and hit films including The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters and Happy Gilmore.

      Early life

      Bernie Brillstein was born to a Jewish family[2] in Manhattan, to Moe Brillstein and Matilda "Tillie" Brillstein (née Perlman), who all shared the Manhattan home of his uncle, the vaudeville and radio performer Jack Pearl. Brillstein's father, a milliner, was the guiding force behind the building of the Millinery Center Synagogue, a synagogue located in the Garment District in Manhattan.[3]

      Career

      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, he joined Management III in 1964 to continue talent management.[4] In the 1960s, he also co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers.

      The Brillstein Company

      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[5] and Saturday Night Live.[6]

      Brillstein later became manager of SNL alumni Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Martin Short, and executive producer 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 ALF: The Animated Series, and Normal Life. He was also exclusive producer to the animation sequel The Real Ghostbusters (based on the hit movie).

      Brillstein-Grey Entertainment

      In the 1980s, he met Brad Grey at a television convention in San Francisco. In 1991,[4] the two formed a production company, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, which packages programming and manages talent. They were responsible for such shows as NewsRadio, Just Shoot Me!, The Larry Sanders Show and The Sopranos. As executive producer, Brillstein was 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.[6] He also represented Nick Swardson for six years prior to his death.[7]

      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.[3] Two years later, he received the honor as recipient of a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, on April 18, 2001. His second book The Little Stuff Matters Most, a humorous advice collection, was published in 2004.[8]

      Personal life

      In 1967, Brillstein married Laura Smith.[3][9] In 1975, he married Deborah Ellen Koskoff. In 1998, Brillstein married Carrie Winston Brillstein, a marriage that lasted until his 2008 death.[10]

      Brillstein died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a Los Angeles hospital on August 7, 2008, at the age of 77.[11]

      Filmography

      He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

      Film

      Year Film Credit Notes
      1980Up the AcademyExecutive producer
      The Blues BrothersExecutive producer
      1981Continental DivideExecutive producer
      NeighborsExecutive producer
      1983Doctor DetroitExecutive producer
      1984GhostbustersExecutive producer
      1985Summer RentalExecutive producer
      Spies Like UsExecutive producer
      1987DragnetExecutive producer
      1989Ghostbusters IIExecutive producer
      1993HexedExecutive producer
      1996Happy GilmoreExecutive producer
      The Cable GuyExecutive producer
      BulletproofExecutive producer
      1998The Replacement Killers
      2000What Planet Are You From?Executive producer
      2002Run Ronnie Run!Executive producer
      2004Jiminy Glick in LalawoodFinal film as a producer
      Thanks
      Year Film Role
      2008A Federal CaseAcknowledgment

      Television

      Year Title Credit Notes
      1973The Burns and Schreiber Comedy HourExecutive producer
      1974The Muppets Valentine ShowExecutive producerTelevision special
      1981Open All NightExecutive producer
      1982The Valentine's Day That Almost Wasn'tExecutive producerTelevision special
      1983SitcomExecutive producerTelevision film
      1983−84Buffalo BillExecutive producer
      1985Big Shots in AmericaExecutive producerTelevision short
      1986Comedy FactoryExecutive producer
      1987CBS Summer PlayhouseExecutive producer
      1988ALF TalesExecutive producer
      The BoysExecutive producer
      1989The Wickedest WitchExecutive producerTelevision film
      1986−90ALFExecutive producer
      It's Garry Shandling's ShowExecutive producer
      1990Normal LifeExecutive producer
      Don't Try This at Home!Executive producerTelevision film
      A Very Retail ChristmasExecutive producerTelevision short
      1991Good SportsExecutive producer
      Space CatsExecutive producer
      1987−91The Days and Nights of Molly DoddExecutive producer
      1992The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
      1996For HopeExecutive producerTelevision film
      Mr. Show with Bob and David: Fantastic NewnessExecutive producerTelevision short
      1995−97The Jeff Foxworthy ShowExecutive producer
      Mr. Show with Bob and DavidExecutive producer
      The Naked TruthExecutive producer
      1998Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News ReportExecutive producerTelevision short
      1995−99NewsRadioExecutive producer
      1999−2000The Martin Short ShowExecutive producer
      1996−2002The Steve Harvey ShowExecutive producer
      Politically IncorrectExecutive producer
      2002Next!Executive producer
      2001−03Primetime GlickExecutive producer
      2003The Lyon's DenExecutive producer
      1997−2003Just Shoot Me!Executive producer
      2001−04The Wayne Brady ShowExecutive producer
      2003−04Comedy Inc.Executive producer
      2006HeistExecutive producer
      Miscellaneous crew
      Year Title Role
      1986−91The Real GhostbustersExecutive consultant
      As an actor
      Year Title Role Notes Other notes
      1984The Ratings GameMan in Le BoeufTelevision film
      Uncredited
      2004The SopranosHimself
      Thanks
      Year Title Role Notes
      1984The Ratings GameSpecial thanksTelevision film
      1986The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary SpecialTelevision special
      2008Saturday Night LiveDedicatee

      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 978-0-316-11885-9 (Chapter One online)
      • The Little Stuff Matters Most (2004). Bernie Brillstein with David Rensin ISBN 1-59240-079-5

      References

      1. "Brillstein, Bernie 1931-2008 (Bernard J. Brillstein, Bernard Jules Brillstein, Bernie J. Brillstein) - Dictionary definition of Brillstein, Bernie 1931-2008 (Bernard J. Brillstein, Bernard Jules Brillstein, Bernie J. Brillstein) - Encyclopedia.com: Free online dictionary". www.encyclopedia.com.
      2. Jewish Journal: "The Heroes of Jewish Comedy" by Tom Teicholz July 3, 2003
      3. Brillstein, Bernie; Rensin, David (1999). Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead! (1st ed.). Boston: Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-11885-9. OCLC 40954091. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
      4. "Bernie Brillstein Biography" (PDF). Retrieved November 1, 2007.
      5. Rose, Frank (1995). The Agency: William Morris and the Hidden History of Show Business. New York: Harper. pp. 261, 415.
      6. "Brillstein-Grey Entertainment". Hoovers. Retrieved November 1, 2007.
      7. "WTF with Marc Maron Podcast: Episode 88 – Nick Swardson / Joshua Tree". Wtfpod.libsyn.com. July 8, 2010. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
      8. "Books by Bernie Brillstein". ISBNS. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
      9. "Marriage Announcement 15: Brillstein-Smith" (PDF). The New York Times. June 25, 1967. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
      10. "Brillstein, Bernie 1931– - Dictionary definition of Brillstein, Bernie 1931– - Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary". www.encyclopedia.com.
      11. Cieply, Michael (August 8, 2008). Bernie Brillstein, Film Producer, Dies. The New York Times
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