Industry icon Bernie Brillstein dies

Bernie Brillstein, pioneering manager and producer whose keen eye for talent led him to steer the careers of such stars and creatives as John Belushi and Jim Henson, died Thursday night of chronic pulmonary disease. He was 77.
Brillstein was an influential force in the 1975 launch of NBC mainstay ``Saturday Night Live'' as the manager of creator-exec producer Lorne Michaels as well as stars Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner.
In the 1980s, the Brillstein Co. was among the first contempo talent rep shingles to branch out into TV production in a significant way with shows packaged around clients, a list that included "ALF,'' "It's Garry Shandling's Show,'' and "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd''.
Early in his career, Brillstein was mightily impressed by the talent and vision of a young puppeteer he'd met in New York. He repped Muppets creator Henson until the latter's death in 1990.
Variety obit HERE
IMDB HERE

From "Hee Haw" to "The Blues Brothers" to "Mr. Show with Bob and David"...Bernie was ever-present and always jolly...we'll miss him dearly...

Thanks for the memories Bernie.

Henson in 2008

The life of Muppets creator Jim Henson is to be turned into a feature film. Penny Marshall will direct the $30 million Henson biopic, entitled Henson, which will begin shooting later this year. Jim, the legendary Oscar-nominated puppeteer, died of bacterial pneumonia on May 16th, 1990.
more HERE