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Bernie Brillstein, 1931-2008
Posted by STV at 4:00 AM on August 9, 2008
Legendary talent manager and producer Bernie Brillstein died Thursday after months of battling complications from heart disease; he was 77. Credited with influential (and lucrative) deals for clients including Jim Henson and the geniuses who brought you Hee Haw, Brillstein was perhaps best known for nurturing John Belushi's rising star before his own devastating death in 1982.
From his start in the William Morris mailroom to his powerhouse partnership with Brad Grey, Brillstein needed three memoirs just to sort his stories out; as such, we don't even know where to start on our favourites here. Would it be his fatherhood of the "executive producer" credit he established while packaging and selling hit shows? His insatiable appetite and fantastic lust? His shepherding of Animal House and The Blues Brothers through Universal and early defence (maybe even rescue) of Saturday Night Live from the NBC ax?
Or it could be any number of the other stories referenced and cross-referenced between Variety, a particularly fun tribute at Tabloid Baby ("I'd like to fuck that Drew Barrymore. Oooh.") and Nikki Finke, who notes that Grey and Lorne Michaels are arranging a memorial service for Brillstein next week. Consider this our own: Thanks for the memories, Bernie — even Hee Haw. You'll be missed.
[Photo Credit: WireImage]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Mr-Busy
Posted 5:22 AM 9/8/08
Bernie is now face to face with John Belushi again. This should be some otherworldly client - manager conversation. I wonder if agents and managers still take a percentage in the great beyond?
Mr-Busy
Losin_it
Posted 5:14 AM 9/8/08
But who's going to take care of the Duke boys and Daisy now?
Losin_it
NoGrumpys
Posted 5:00 AM 9/8/08
Didn't Mike Myers die after the Love Guru?
Oh that was jusat his career
carry - on
NoGrumpys
Mr-Busy
Posted 4:37 AM 9/8/08
As you know in Hollywood, they die in threes - Andy Ackerman, Bernie Brillstein - ok, who will be next? Anybody else ailing?
RIP guys, really.
Mr-Busy
MsMuffinMcGuffin
Posted 5:45 AM 9/8/08
They don't make them like that anymore!
RIP, Bernie.
MsMuffinMcGuffin
Desk_hack
Posted 5:31 AM 9/8/08
Most people know the impact he had on this business, especially anyone who's worked in representation. He was a giant. I hope he's laughing, wherever he is.
Desk_hack
Bear_Necessities
Posted 5:57 AM 9/8/08
Thanks for giving us SNL, BB!
Bear_Necessities
Imnotatnbc
Posted 8:49 AM 9/8/08
He was fucking awesome. Always returned your phone calls no matter how lowly you were (and I should know cause I was lowly but he always called me back). He was brilliant, funny and extremely generous. Jewish Santa Claus.
Imnotatnbc
TedCopacabana
Posted 5:23 AM 13/8/08
Mike, my heart goes out to you over the loss of your dad.
TedCopacabana