Television and movie producer Bernie Brillstein was instrumental in the success of Saturday Night Live and The Muppet Show. Together with his partner Brad Grey, he produced the Sopranos and The Larry Sanders Show.

Brillstein died on August 7, 2008, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Bernie Brillstein produced numerous television shows and movies, as well as managed the careers of Jim Henson, Lorne Michaels, Gilda Radner, Rob Lowe and John Belushi. He joined forces with Brad Grey in 1991, with the creation of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. According to his autobiography, he was most proud of his work on the film Dangerous Liaisons, starring John Malkovich and Glenn Close.

"How do you take an actor or comedian or a writer and point them in the right direction and go through all that garbage unless you love it and love them and think they're talented and worth it? It's an amazing experience."