Bernie Brillstein

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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 place
Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Alma materNew York University
Spouses
    Laura Smith
    ​
    (m. 1967)​
      Deborah Ellen Koskoff
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1975)​
        Carrie Winston
        ​
        (m. 1998)​

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

        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, The Steve Harvey Show, 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
        1983−1984Buffalo BillExecutive producer
        1985Big Shots in AmericaExecutive producerTelevision short
        1986Comedy FactoryExecutive producer
        1986−1990ALFExecutive producer
        It's Garry Shandling's ShowExecutive producer
        1987CBS Summer PlayhouseExecutive producer
        1987−1991The Days and Nights of Molly DoddExecutive producer
        1987−1989ALF: The Animated SeriesExecutive producer
        1988ALF TalesExecutive producer
        The BoysExecutive producer
        1989The Wickedest WitchExecutive producerTelevision film
        1990Normal LifeExecutive producer
        Don't Try This at Home!Executive producerTelevision film
        A Very Retail ChristmasExecutive producerTelevision short
        1991Good SportsExecutive producer
        Space CatsExecutive producer
        1992The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
        1995−1999NewsRadioExecutive producer
        1995−1997The Jeff Foxworthy ShowExecutive producer
        Mr. Show with Bob and DavidExecutive producer
        The Naked TruthExecutive producer
        1996For HopeExecutive producerTelevision film
        Mr. Show with Bob and David: Fantastic NewnessExecutive producerTelevision short
        1996−2002The Steve Harvey ShowExecutive producer
        Politically IncorrectExecutive producer
        1997−2003Just Shoot Me!Executive producer
        1998Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News ReportExecutive producerTelevision short
        1999−2000The Martin Short ShowExecutive producer
        2001−2003Primetime GlickExecutive producer
        2001−2004The Wayne Brady ShowExecutive producer
        2002Next!Executive producer
        2003The Lyon's DenExecutive producer
        2003−2004Comedy 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