Television Program Producer. Born Bernard Jules Brillstein to a Jewish family in Manhattan, New York City, New York. His parents were Moe Brillstein and Matilda "Tillie" Perlman Brillstein and his uncle was the vaudeville and radio performer Jack Pearl. He began his career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency and worked his way up to talent agent, eventually becoming a manager of television programming for the company. In 1969, he formed The Brillstein Company and produced shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and "The Muppet Show". He later became the manager for several SNL performers, including Gilda Radner and John Belushi, and was also the executive producer on films such as "The Blues Brothers" (1980), "Ghostbusters" (1984), and "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988). In 1991, he formed the Brillstein-Grey company with partner Brad Grey and they produced "The Larry Sanders Show" and "The Sopranos" for HBO. Brillstein retired in 1996 and sold his shares of the company to his partner. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001. In his 1999 book "Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Until Someone Wants You Dead," he joked that he would like his tombstone to read, "Bernie Brillstein: From 'Hee Haw' to 'Dangerous Liaisons.'"
Television Program Producer. Born Bernard Jules Brillstein to a Jewish family in Manhattan, New York City, New York. His parents were Moe Brillstein and Matilda "Tillie" Perlman Brillstein and his uncle was the vaudeville and radio performer Jack Pearl. He began his career in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency and worked his way up to talent agent, eventually becoming a manager of television programming for the company. In 1969, he formed The Brillstein Company and produced shows such as "Saturday Night Live" and "The Muppet Show". He later became the manager for several SNL performers, including Gilda Radner and John Belushi, and was also the executive producer on films such as "The Blues Brothers" (1980), "Ghostbusters" (1984), and "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988). In 1991, he formed the Brillstein-Grey company with partner Brad Grey and they produced "The Larry Sanders Show" and "The Sopranos" for HBO. Brillstein retired in 1996 and sold his shares of the company to his partner. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2001. In his 1999 book "Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Until Someone Wants You Dead," he joked that he would like his tombstone to read, "Bernie Brillstein: From 'Hee Haw' to 'Dangerous Liaisons.'"
Bio by: Jennifer M.
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