LOS ANGELES � Bernie Brillstein, a Hollywood manager and manufacturer who helped mold television with his contributions to series such as "Saturday Night Live" and "The Muppet Show," died Thursday night in Los Angeles. He was 77. The cause was chronic pneumonic disease, aforementioned Nicole Caruso, a publicist for Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
In a 52-year career, Mr. Brillstein delineated entertainers world Health Organization ranged from stand-up comic Norm Crosby and singer Frankie Laine to a later coevals of comic rebels that included John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Lorne Michaels, Martin Short and others.
Mr. Brillstein launched his career in the mail room of the William Morris Agency in New York in 1956 and rose through the ranks to become a gift agent.
After creation the Brillstein Company in 1969 � the number one of terzetto management and production companies to bear his list � he helped launch "Hee Haw," the long-running country music-comedy show.
He as well helped launch "The Muppet Show" and was implemental in delivery "Saturday Night Live" to NBC in 1975.
As a manager, Mr. Brillstein delineated the long-running comedy show's creator-executive producer, Michaels, as well as Belushi, Radner and Aykroyd.
"He was steady in his belief in me," Michaels said Friday, adding that he couldn't have through with "Saturday Night Live" without him.
Mr. Brillstein helped bring out the films "The Blues Brothers," "Ghostbusters," "Dragnet," "Happy Gilmore" and "The Cable Guy."
For boob tube, he helped produce the series "ALF," "Buffalo Bill," "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "The Dana Carvey Show" and "The Martin Short Show."
After Lorimar-Telepictures purchased his management company in 1986, Mr. Brillstein was installed as head of Lorimar's movie division.
As he wrote in his 1999 memoir "Where Did I Go Right?: You're No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead," he put about 20 films in development in deuce years "and ended up making six lousy movies, two good movies and one outstanding movie," the latter beingness the Oscar-winning "Dangerous Liaisons."
In 1991, he partnered with Brad Grey to found Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the high profile personal management and production company whose clients included Short, Jon Lovitz, Brad Pitt and Nicolas Cage.
When Mr. Brillstein initially leased him at the Brillstein Co. in the '80s, Grey said, "Bernie was an picture and one of the most successful talent managers in the business."
Added Grey, who is now president of Paramount Motion Picture Group: "He was a father to me, and he was my mentor and my partner and the godfather of my eldest boy, and I'm going to miss him every day for the rest of my life."
Although Mr. Brillstein sold his interest in Brillstein-Grey in 1996, Grey said, "he worked with me every day until I left hand to become chairman of Paramount in 2005."
Mr. Brillstein continued to work at the society, which was renamed Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and where, Grey aforementioned, he remained "a power" until he fell ill this year.
He was innate in New York City on April 26, 1931, and grew up in a modishness hotel, where his home lived with Mr. Brillstein's uncle, comic Jack Pearl. He gradatory from New York University with a degree in advertising.
Mr. Brillstein, who was married several times, is survived by his married woman of 10 years, Carrie; three sons, two daughters and a grandson.
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