Bernie Brillstein

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, 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.

Bernie Brillstein
Born
Bernard Jules Brillstein

(1931-04-26)April 26, 1931
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
DiedAugust 7, 2008(2008-08-07) (aged 77)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery
Spouse(s)Laura Smith (m. 1967)
Deborah Ellen Koskoff (m. 1975)
Carrie Winston Brillstein (1998–2008; his death)

Early life

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]

Brillstein attended Stuyvesant High School, graduated from New York University, and later served in the military.

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, in 1964 he joined Management III 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 Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Martin Short, 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 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 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.[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.

Personal life

In 1967, Brillstein married Laura Smith.[3][8] In 1975, he married Deborah Ellen Koskoff. Then in 1998, Brillstein married Carrie Winston Brillstein, to whom he remained married until 2008, the time of his death.[9]

On the evening of August 7, 2008, around 9:00 pm, Brillstein died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at a Los Angeles hospital.[10]

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
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. "Marriage Announcement 15: Brillstein-Smith" (PDF). The New York Times. June 25, 1967. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  9. "Brillstein, Bernie 1931– - Dictionary definition of Brillstein, Bernie 1931– - Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary". www.encyclopedia.com.
  10. Cieply, Michael (August 8, 2008). Bernie Brillstein, Film Producer, Dies. The New York Times
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