Background

Bernie Brillstein was born on April 26, 1931, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. He was a son of Moe Brillstein, a milliner, and Tillie Brillstein. Jack Pearl, a vaudeville performer and a star of early radio, was his uncle.

Education

Initially, Bernie studied at Stuyvesant High School. Then, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Advertising from New York University.

Career

Between 1953 and 1955, Brillstein served in the United States Army. In 1955, he began his career as a mailroom/talent representative at the William Morris Agency, a post he held till 1964, when he joined Management III, New York City, as a talent representative. Brillstein remained at the company till 1969, when he established his own firm - The Brillstein Company. Operating his own company, Bernie, however, continued to manage stars and develop television programming. The stars he managed included Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Martin Short, Lorne Michaels, Jim Henson and others. Also, it was in the 1960's, that he co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers.

In the 1980's, Brillstein got acquainted with Brad Grey, an American television and film producer, with whom, in 1991, he co-founded a production company, Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. They were responsible for such shows as "NewsRadio", "Just Shoot Me!", "The Larry Sanders Show" and "The Sopranos". Later, in 1996, Bernie left the post of a co-chair and sold his shares in the company to Grey.

Television hits, that Bernie produced, included "Hee Haw", "The Muppet Show" and "Saturday Night Live". He acted as an executive producer for many films, including "Happy Gilmore", "The Blues Brothers", "Ghostbusters", among many others.

During his career, Brillstein also served as a chief executive officer at Lorimar Film Entertainment in Los Angeles.

Achievements

• Bernie Brillstein was a prominent Hollywood manager and producer, known for his contributions to series like "Saturday Night Live" and "The Muppet Show".
  
  The most successful TV-programs and TV-series he produced included "Hee Haw" and "The Sopranos". Also, hit films Bernie produced included "The Blues Brothers", "Ghostbusters" and "Happy Gilmore". As the chief executive officer of Lorimar Film Entertainment, he was also responsible for the award-winning drama "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988).
  
  Bernie was also known as a legend among entertainment industry agents and talent representatives. In a 52-year show-business career, Brillstein represented entertainers, who ranged from the stand-up comedian Norm Crosby and the singer Frankie Laine to a later generation of comic rebels, that included John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Lorne Michaels, Martin Short and others.
  
  During his career, Bernie Brillstein received many honours, including the Peabody awards, Emmy nominations and a CableACE Award. Also, on April 18, 2001, he got a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Little Stuff Matters Most

    (A noted Hollywood manager and producer draws on his own f...)

    2004
  • Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead

    (Brillstein reveals 40 years of gossip, humor and colorful...)

    1999

• movie

  • The Blues Brothers

    (Jake and Elwood Blues get out of prison and put their leg...)

    1980
  • Dragnet

    (Tom Hanks and Dan Aykroyd star as unlikely partners in th...)

    1987
  • Dangerous Liaisons

    (A powerful study of seduction, betrayal and sexual gamesm...)

    1988
  • Ghostbusters

    (Ghosts invade New York and force a trio of spirit extermi...)

    1984
  • The Cable Guy

    (Out-of-control comedy features Jim Carrey at his hilariou...)

    1996
  • Happy Gilmore

    (Adam Sandler stars in this hilarious comedy, that scores ...)

    1996

Views

Quotations: "Outcomes rarely turn on grand gestures or the art of the deal, but on whether you've sent someone a thank-you note."

"Because I'm fat, people believe I'm somehow vulnerable and easy to handle in a negotiation. Ever try to negotiate with a fat guy? We can be mean: Marvin Davis, Harvey Weinstein, Hermann Goering. No one screws around with us for long."

"In a world where celebrity equals talent, and where make-believe is called reality, it is most important to have real love, truth and stability in your life."

"Management is like making love. There's heat from both sides. You have an instinct to get there. You have no idea what you're really in for, but you do it anyway."

Membership

Bernie was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Television Academy, Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles Free Clinic, Brentwood City Council and New York Friars Club.

Connections

During his lifetime, Bernie was married to several women. In 1967, he married Laura Smith. Later, in 1975, Deborah Ellen Koskoff became his second wife. Then, in 1998, Brillstein married Carrie Winston Brillstein, who was his wife until 2008, the time of his death.

Bernie was a father of several children, including Leigh, David Koskoff, Nick Koskoff, Michael and Kate.

Father:

Moe Brillstein

Mother:

Tillie Brillstein

child:

Leigh Brillstein

child:

David Koskoff Brillstein

child:

Nick Koskoff Brillstein

child:

Michael Brillstein

child:

Kate Brillstein

ex-wife:

Laura Smith

ex-wife:

Deborah Ellen Koskoff

Wife:

Carrie Winston Brillstein

Uncle:

Jack Pearl

colleague:

Brad Grey