Brad Grey
Born
Brad Alan Grey

December 29, 1957
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 2017 (aged 59)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity at Buffalo
Occupation(s)Former Chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures
Years active1984–2017
Spouses
Jill Gutterson
​
​
(m. 1982; div. 2007)​
    Cassandra Huysentruyt
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2011)​
    Children4

    Brad Alan Grey (December 29, 1957 – May 14, 2017) was an American television and film producer. He co-founded Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (now Brillstein Entertainment Partners), and afterwards became the chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures, a position he held from 2005[1] until 2017. Grey graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management. Under Grey's leadership, Paramount finished No. 1 in global market share in 2011 and No. 2 domestically in 2008, 2009, and 2010, despite releasing significantly fewer films than its competitors.[2][3] He also produced eight out of Paramount's 10 top-grossing pictures of all time after having succeeded Sherry Lansing in 2005.[4]

    Early life

    Grey was born to a Jewish family in the Bronx,[5][6][7] the youngest child of a garment district salesman. He majored in business and communications at the University at Buffalo.[8]

    While attending the university, he became a gofer for a young Harvey Weinstein, who was then a concert promoter. The first show Grey produced (at age 20) was a concert by Frank Sinatra at Buffalo's Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in 1978. He traveled to Manhattan on weekends to look for young comics at The Improv. Grey brought comedian Bob Saget to New York, thus making Saget his first client.[9]

    Career

    Talent agent and producer

    In 1984, Grey met talent manager Bernie Brillstein in San Francisco, California, at a television convention. Having convinced Brillstein that he could deliver fresh talent, he was taken on as a partner and the Bernie Brillstein Company was re-christened Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.[10] Grey began producing for television in 1986 with the Showtime hit, It's Garry Shandling's Show. In the late 1990s, Shandling sued Grey for breach of duties and related claims. Shandling complained that his TV show lost its best writers and producers when Brad Grey got them deals to do other projects, and that Grey commissioned these other deals, while Shandling did not benefit from them. Grey denied the allegations and countersued, saying the comedian breached his contract on The Larry Sanders Show by failing to produce some episodes and indiscriminately dismissing writers, among other actions.[11] Both suits were settled avoiding a trial.[12] Shandling did testify about Grey during the 2008 trial of private investigator Anthony Pellicano who worked on Grey's defense team.[13][14] The value of the settlement to Shandling was later disputed by attorneys as being either $4 million or $10 million.[15][16]

    In 1996, Brillstein sold his shares of the Brillstein-Grey company to Grey, giving Grey full rein over operations; the company's television unit was subsequently rechristened "Brad Grey Television". Grey produced shows such as Emmy Award-winning The Sopranos and The Wayne Brady Show. Other shows developed in the 1990s under the Brillstein-Grey banner included Good Sports, The Larry Sanders Show, Mr. Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, The Sopranos, NewsRadio, and Just Shoot Me! Grey also ventured into film by producing the Adam Sandler hit Happy Gilmore.

    In 1996, actress Linda Doucett alleged that Grey and Shandling fired her from The Larry Sanders Show after her personal relationship with Shandling ended.[17] Doucett reportedly received a $1 million settlement in this matter in 1997.

    In July 2000 - on the day of Scary Movie's opening - Grey and Brillstein-Grey were sued by Bo Zenga and his Boz Productions in what became known as the 'Scary' suit.[18] Zenga, at the time an unknown bit-part actor,[19] "claimed he had an oral agreement with Grey's management firm Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, giving him equal profits on the film".[18] Scary Movie went on to make $278m worldwide.[20]

    The pre-trial discovery process "revealed that major parts of Zenga's resume were fabricated. Brillstein-Grey said in a court filing that Zenga presented himself as a successful investment banker who became a prize-winning screenwriter to satisfy his creative urges."[18] "Far from being a successful investment banker, Zenga once filed for personal bankruptcy" and "according to court papers, the only writing award he won was in a phony contest he set up himself."[18] After denying under oath that he knew who owned the company that ran the contest, Bo Zenga recanted a day later, admitting his ownership of the company and "saying he had been 'overmedicated.'"[21] When questioned about "an accusation from his former business partner that he coerced her to lie for him,"[18] Zenga "in a highly unusual move for a plaintiff in a film-profits case — asserted his Fifth Amendment right not to answer hundreds of questions." Zenga's suit was thrown out of court for lack of evidence. L.A. Superior Court Judge Robert O'Brien "noted it was only the second time in all his years on the bench that he had granted a non-suit and taken a case away from a jury."[18]

    In 2002, Grey formed Plan B with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, with a first-look deal at Warner Bros. The company produced two films for Warner Bros: Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp, and Martin Scorsese's The Departed, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Jack Nicholson. After Pitt and Aniston separated, Grey and Pitt moved the company to Paramount Pictures in 2005.[22]

    In May 2006, Zenga "filed a new suit against Grey personally,"[23] in which he charged Grey with using notorious private investigator Anthony Pellicano to illegally wiretap and conduct illegal background checks on Zenga during the original case. Grey denied any knowledge, testifying that "his dealings with Pellicano 'all came through Bert Fields' and that 'in every instance' Grey had never been given updates on the investigations by Pellicano."[24] The suit was "dismissed, due to Zenga having lied and to statute of limitations issues."[25] Zenga's appeal continued after Grey's death until being dismissed in December 2017.

    Paramount Pictures CEO

    Grey was named chief executive officer of Paramount Pictures Corporation in 2005. In his position, Grey was responsible for overseeing all feature film development and production for films distributed by Paramount Pictures Corporation including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Paramount Insurge, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies.[26] He was also responsible for the worldwide business operations for Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Animation, Studio Group and Worldwide Television Distribution.[27]

    Among the commercial and critical hit films Paramount produced and/or distributed during Grey's tenure were the Transformers, Paranormal Activity, and Iron Man franchises, Star Trek, How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek the Third, Mission: Impossible III, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, An Inconvenient Truth, There Will Be Blood, No Country for Old Men, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Babel, Shutter Island, Up in the Air, The Fighter, True Grit, The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, and Hugo.

    During his time as chairman and CEO of Paramount, the studio's films were nominated for dozens of Academy Awards, including 20 in 2011[28] and 18 in 2012.[29]

    After arriving at Paramount in 2005, Chairman and CEO Grey was credited with leading a return to fortune at the box office.[30] He oversaw the creation and revitalization of several major franchises, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek, and Paranormal Activity, which was made for $15,000 and generated $192 million at the global box office.[3] Paranormal Activity 2 grossed $177 million worldwide, and the third installment in the franchise collected $205.7 million worldwide in 2011.[31] A fourth installment was released in October 2012. The studio's 2011 results included Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which grossed more than $1.1 billion worldwide, and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, whose $694 million global box office tally makes it the most successful entry in that franchise.[32][33] Paramount's 2012 slate included The Dictator which earned $179 million on a $65 million budget.[2][34]

    During this period, Paramount forged productive relationships with top-tier filmmakers and talent including J. J. Abrams, Michael Bay and Martin Scorsese.[35]

    In 2011, based on the success of Rango, the studio's first original, computer-animated release, Grey oversaw the launch of a new animation division, Paramount Animation.[36]

    The 2010 Paramount slate achieved much success with Shutter Island and True Grit reaching the biggest box office totals in the storied careers of Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers, respectively. In addition, during Grey's tenure, Paramount launched its own worldwide releasing arm, Paramount Pictures International, and has released acclaimed films such as An Inconvenient Truth, Up in the Air and There Will Be Blood. The success of Paranormal Activity also led to the creation of a low-budget releasing label Insurge Pictures, which released Justin Bieber: Never Say Never, which collected nearly $100 million in worldwide box office revenue.[37]

    Grey was ousted from Paramount Pictures shortly before his death, a result of a power struggle between his backers and the family of majority owner Sumner Redstone, along with a series of flops that cost the studio $450 million in losses.[38]

    Death

    Grey died on May 14, 2017, from fourth-stage metastatic lung cancer at his Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles, California.[39][40] He was 59.[41][42]

    Philanthropy

    Grey received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from SUNY during a visit to Buffalo and UB in 2003.[43] Grey's Board appointments included:

    • UCLA's Executive Board for the Medical Sciences[44]
    • USC School of Cinema-Television Board of Councilors[45]
    • Board of Directors for Project A.L.S.[46]
    • NYU's Tisch School of the Arts[47]
    • Los Angeles County Museum of Art[48]

    Filmography

    He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

    Film

    Year Film Credit Notes
    1990Opportunity KnocksExecutive producer
    1996Happy GilmoreExecutive producer
    The Cable GuyExecutive producer
    BulletproofExecutive producer
    1998The Replacement Killers
    The Wedding SingerExecutive producer
    Dirty WorkExecutive producer
    2000What Planet Are You From?Executive producer
    ScrewedExecutive producer
    Scary MovieExecutive producer
    2002City by the Sea
    2003View from the Top
    2005Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    2006The Departed
    Running with Scissors
    2007The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert FordExecutive producerFinal film as a producer
    As writer
    Year Film
    1981The Burning
    Miscellaneous crew
    Year Film Notes
    1981The BurningProduction consultant
    Thanks
    Year Film Role Notes
    2006BabelThe director wishes to thank
    2008Taste of FleshVery special thanksDirect-to-video
    2010I'm Still HereSpecial thanks

    Television

    Year Title Credit Notes
    1984Garry Shandling: Alone in VegasTelevision special
    1986The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
    1986−90It's Garry Shandling's ShowExecutive producer
    1988Mr. Miller Goes to Washington Starring Dennis MillerExecutive producerTelevision special
    The BoysExecutive producer
    1989The 13th Annual Young Comedians SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
    1990Normal LifeExecutive producer
    Don't Try This at Home!Executive producerTelevision film
    Dennis Miller: Black and WhiteExecutive producerTelevision special
    Bob Saget: In the Dream StateExecutive producerTelevision special
    1991Good SportsExecutive producer
    1992The Please Watch the Jon Lovitz SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
    The 15th Annual Young Comedians SpecialExecutive producerTelevision special
    1992−98The Larry Sanders ShowExecutive producer
    1993Live from Washington D.C.: They Shoot HBO Specials, Don't They?Executive producerTelevision special
    1995Dana Carvey: Critics' ChoiceExecutive producerTelevision special
    1995−97The Jeff Foxworthy ShowExecutive producer
    Mr. Show with Bob and DavidExecutive producer
    The Naked TruthExecutive producer
    1995−99NewsRadioExecutive producer
    1996For HopeExecutive producerTelevision film
    Mr. Show with Bob and David: Fantastic NewnessExecutive producerTelevision short
    1996−2002The Steve Harvey ShowExecutive producer
    Politically IncorrectExecutive producer
    1997C-16: FBIExecutive producer
    1997−98Alright AlreadyExecutive producer
    1997−2003Just Shoot Me!Executive producer
    1998Mr. Show and the Incredible, Fantastical News ReportExecutive producerTelevision short
    Applewood 911Executive producerTelevision film
    1999−2007The SopranosExecutive producer
    2000SammyExecutive producer
    2001−02PasadenaExecutive producer
    2002In Memoriam: New York CityExecutive producerDocumentary
    Father LeftyExecutive producerTelevision film
    2003My Big Fat Greek LifeExecutive producer
    Married to the KellysExecutive producer
    The Lyon's DenExecutive producer
    TitletownExecutive producerTelevision film
    2004Three Sisters: Searching for a CureExecutive producerDocumentary
    2004−06Cracking UpExecutive producer
    2005Jake in ProgressExecutive producer
    East of Normal, West of WeirdExecutive producerTelevision film
    2006−19Real Time with Bill MaherExecutive producer

    Awards

      Award    Year    Work    Category    Ref.  
    Emmy2004The SopranosOutstanding Drama Series[49]
    Emmy2007The SopranosOutstanding Drama Series[49]
    Peabody1993The Larry Sanders Show[50]
    Peabody1998The Larry Sanders Show[51]
    Peabody1999The Sopranos[52]
    Peabody2000The Sopranos[53]
    PGA2000The Sopranos[54]
    PGA2005The SopranosNorman Felton Producer of the Year – Episodic[54]
    PGA2008The SopranosNorman Felton Producer of the Year – Episodic[54]

    References

    1. ↑ Cieply, Michael (2009-01-08). "New York Times, Jan 2009". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-04-14. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    2. 1 2 Finke, Nikki (2012-01-02). "Paramount Topples Warner Bros For #1 In 2011 Market Share With Record $5.17B Worldwide, Jan 2012". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    3. 1 2 Cieply, Michael (2009-12-13). "New York Times, Dec 2009". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    4. ↑ Biskind, Peter (2012-06-11). "Vanity Fair, July 2012". VanityFair.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
    5. ↑ Joel Stein (December 19, 2008). "Who runs Hollywood? C'mon". LA Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
    6. ↑ Jewish Journal: "The Heroes of Jewish Comedy" by Tom Teicholz Archived 2016-08-26 at the Wayback Machine July 3, 2003
    7. ↑ Brook, Vincent. From Shtetl to Stardom: Jews and Hollywood: Chapter 1: Still an Empire of Their Own: How Jews Remain Atop a Reinvented Hollywood. Purdue University Press. p. 15. Archived from the original on 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
    8. ↑ O'Shei, Tim (15 May 2017). "Brad Grey, UB grad-turned-Hollywood mogul, dies at 59". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
    9. ↑ "Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-21. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    10. ↑ "WMA.com" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    11. ↑ "New York Times July 3, 1999". The New York Times. 1999-07-03. Archived from the original on 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    12. ↑ Bates, James (1999-07-03). "LA Times July 3, 1999". Articles.latimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    13. ↑ Abramowitz, Rachel (2008-03-17). "LA Times March 17, 2008". Articles.latimes.com. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    14. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (2008-03-14). "New York Times March, 2008". The New York Times. Los Angeles (Calif). Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    15. ↑ "Huffington Post March, 2008". Huffingtonpost.com. 2008-03-18. Archived from the original on 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    16. ↑ Garrett, Diane (2008-03-17). "Variety Mar. 17, 2008". Variety.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    17. ↑ "Hollywood Harassment: I Was Fired from a Hit Show and Intimidated By Lawyers (Guest Column)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2018-03-08. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
    18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shprintz, Janet (2002-05-28). "Judge throws out Zenga's 'Scary' suit". Variety. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    19. ↑ "Bo Zenga". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    20. ↑ "Scary Movie (2000) - Box Office Mojo". www.boxofficemojo.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-13. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    21. ↑ Halbfinger, David M.; Weiner, Allison Hope (2006-03-24). "Evidence of Wiretaps Used in Suit". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    22. ↑ Hazelton, John (2005-06-23). "Screen Daily". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    23. ↑ "Brad Grey Escapes Liability in Anthony Pellicano Matter". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    24. ↑ Finke, Nikki (2008-03-20). "Brad Grey's Pellicano Testimony: "Boring"". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    25. ↑ B, Tom (2017-05-15). "Boot Hill: RIP Brad Grey". Boot Hill. Archived from the original on 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
    26. ↑ "Divisions | Paramount Pictures". Archived from the original on 2012-07-11. Retrieved 2012-07-17., Paramount Picture
    27. ↑ "Paramount Corporate". Paramount.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    28. ↑ "Reuters Jan 25th, 2011". 2011-01-25. Archived from the original on 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2017-06-30.
    29. ↑ Finke, Nikki (2012-01-24). "OSCARS: Nominations By Studio – Sony 21, Paramount 18, Weinstein 16, Disney 13, Fox 10, Universal 7, Warner Bros 5, Roadside Attractions 4". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on 2012-01-28. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    30. ↑ Lauria, Peter (2010-02-12). "New York Post, February 2010". Nypost.com.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
    31. ↑ "Box Office Mojo: Paranormal Activity 3". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    32. ↑ Subers, Ray (2012-02-07). "Around-the-World Roundup: 'M:I-4' Passes $600 Million Worldwide". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-10. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    33. ↑ "Transformers: Dark of the Moon". BoxOfficeMojo.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    34. ↑ "The Dictator". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
    35. ↑ "New York Times, November 8, 2006". Nytimes.com.com. 2006-11-08. Archived from the original on 2013-05-10. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
    36. ↑ Miller, Daniel (2011-10-10). "David Stainton Tapped to Run Paramount Animation". HollywoodReporter.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-14. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
    37. ↑ "Box Office Mojo". Archived from the original on 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
    38. ↑ Lang, Brent; Oldham, Stuart (15 May 2017). "Former Paramount CEO Brad Grey Dies at 59". Variety. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
    39. ↑ "Cassandra Grey Opens up About Her Business, Losing Her Husband, and Finding Samantha Ronson". 18 April 2019.
    40. ↑ Smith, Harrison (May 15, 2017). "Brad Grey, 'Sopranos' producer who led Paramount studios, dies at 59". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 17, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    41. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (May 15, 2017). "Brad Grey, Former Head of Paramount Pictures, Dies at 59". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    42. ↑ Faughnder, Ryan; Miller, Daniel (May 15, 2017). "Brad Grey, the old-school mogul who ran Paramount Pictures, dies at 59". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    43. ↑ "Univ Buffalo Archives". Buffalo.edu. 2003-04-03. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    44. ↑ "UCLA Health". UCLA Health. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    45. ↑ "USC Cinema". Cinema.usc.edu. Archived from the original on 2010-08-26. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    46. ↑ "Project A.L.S." Archived from the original on 2007-10-11.
    47. ↑ "Tisch NYU, 2004". Tisch.nyu.edu. 2004-11-09. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2011-05-08.
    48. ↑ Pener, Degen (2013-06-19). "Paramount Pictures' Brad Grey Joins LACMA as Trustee (Exclusive)". HollywoodReporter.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
    49. 1 2 "Brad Grey". Emmys. Archived from the original on June 16, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    50. ↑ "The Larry Sanders Show (HBO): Winner 1993". Peabody. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    51. ↑ "The Larry Sanders Show: Flip (HBO): Winner 1998". Peabody. Archived from the original on July 5, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    52. ↑ "The Sopranos (HBO): Winner 1999". Peabody. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    53. ↑ "The Sopranos (HBO): Winner 2000". Peabody. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
    54. 1 2 3 "PGA Award Winners 1990-2010". Producers Guild of America. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
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