Bernie Brillstein
| Bernie Brillstein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Bernard Jules Brillstein April 26, 1931 Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 7, 2008 (aged 77) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Resting place | Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Smith (1967-unknown) Deborah Ellen Koskoff (1975–unknown) Carrie Winston Brillstein (1998–2008; his death) |
Bernard Jules "Bernie" Brillstein (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 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.
Brillstein was born to a Jewish family in Manhattan, to Moe Brillstein and Tillie Brillstein, 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.
Brillstein attended Stuyvesant High School, 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. In the 1960s, he also co-founded the vocal group The Doodletown Pipers.
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