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{{short description|American film producer}}

'''Lawrence Ira "Larry" Brezner''' (August 23, 1942 – October 5, 2015) was an American film producer, most notable for producing films such as ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'', ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'', and ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]''.
'''Lawrence Ira "Larry" Brezner''' (August 23, 1942 – October 5, 2015) was an American film producer, most notable for producing films such as ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'', ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'', and ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]''.


== Life and career ==
== Life and career ==
Born in the [[Bronx]] in [[New York City]] in 1942,<ref>Steve Chawkins: [http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-larry-brezner-20151010-story.html ''Larry Brezner dies at 73; movie producer and manager of top comic actors.''] In: [[Los Angeles Times]], 10. October 2015</ref> Brezner studied at the [[University of Bridgeport]] and [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] from which he graduated with a Masters in Psychology. He then was a teacher at an elementary school in [[Spanish Harlem]] before he moved on to the entertainment industry. In 1974 he opened a night club in Manhattan, where he met the producer [[Jack Rollins (producer)|Jack Rollins]].<ref>https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/containers/fix071/793044/000110465905034260/a05-13666_1ex99d1.htm</ref> In the same year he joined the company of Rollins & [[Charles H. Joffe]] & with Buddy Morra and was their partner in the late 1970s. After Rollins, Joffe withdrew from the company, he, Buddy Morra, David Steinberg and [[Stephen Tenenbaum]] formed a new company, MBST Entertainment, Inc. (Morra Brezner Steinberg & Tenenbaum). His first wife was the singer [[Melissa Manchester]]; they met when she performed at his club, and Brezner managed her career during their seven-year marriage.<ref>http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/larry-brezner-dead-manager-producer-830109</ref> His second marriage to Bett Zimmerman also ended in divorce.<ref>Margalit Fox: [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/movies/larry-brezner-hollywood-manager-of-star-comics-is-dead-at-73.html ''Larry Brezner, Hollywood Manager of Star Comics, Is Dead at 73.''] In: [[The New York Times]], 11 October 2015</ref>
Born in the [[Bronx]] in [[New York City]] in 1942,<ref>Steve Chawkins: [http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-larry-brezner-20151010-story.html ''Larry Brezner dies at 73; movie producer and manager of top comic actors.''] In: [[Los Angeles Times]], 10. October 2015</ref> Brezner studied at the [[University of Bridgeport]] and [[St. John's University (New York City)|St. John's University]] from which he graduated with a Masters in Psychology. He then was a teacher at an elementary school at PS 47 in the Bronx before he moved on to the entertainment industry. In 1974 he opened a night club in Manhattan, where he met the producer [[Jack Rollins (producer)|Jack Rollins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/containers/fix071/793044/000110465905034260/a05-13666_1ex99d1.htm |title=Leading Hollywood Management Firm Joins CKX |publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission |date=27 July 2005 }}</ref> In the same year he joined the company of Rollins & [[Charles H. Joffe]] with Buddy Morra and was their partner in the late 1970s. After Rollins and Joffe withdrew from the company, he, Buddy Morra, David Steinberg and [[Stephen Tenenbaum]] formed a new company, MBST Entertainment, Inc. (Morra Brezner Steinberg & Tenenbaum). His first wife was the singer [[Melissa Manchester]]; they met when she performed at his club, and Brezner managed her career during their seven-year marriage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/larry-brezner-dead-manager-producer-830109|title = Larry Brezner, Veteran Manager and Producer, Dies at 73|website = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date = 6 October 2015}}</ref> His second marriage to Bett Zimmerman also ended in divorce.<ref>Margalit Fox: [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/movies/larry-brezner-hollywood-manager-of-star-comics-is-dead-at-73.html ''Larry Brezner, Hollywood Manager of Star Comics, Is Dead at 73.''] In: [[The New York Times]], 11 October 2015</ref>


From the mid-1980s, Brezner served as the executive producer for various comedy specials on US television. Brezner also managed the careers of artists such as [[Billy Crystal]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Martin Short]], [[Bette Midler]] and many other comedic talents.
From the mid-1980s, Brezner served as the executive producer for various comedy specials on US television. Brezner also managed the careers of artists such as [[Billy Crystal]], [[Robin Williams]], [[Martin Short]], [[Bette Midler]] and many other comedic talents.


In 1981 his first film project was the original Arthur, his first project as film producer in 1984 was ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]''. This was followed by ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'', ''[[The 'Burbs]]'', and ''[[The Vanishing (1993 film)|The Vanishing]]'' "Krippendorf's Tribe", "The Greatest Game". In 2014 he produced the comedy ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]''. His final project, ''[[Ride Along 2]]'', was released in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title=‘Ride Along 2′ to Bow on Martin Luther King Weekend 2016|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/ride-along-2-to-bow-on-martin-luther-king-weekend-2016-1201132334/|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=13 March 2014}}</ref>
In 1981 his first film project was the original Arthur, his first project as film producer in 1984 was ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]''. This was followed by ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'', ''[[The 'Burbs]]'', and ''[[The Vanishing (1993 film)|The Vanishing]]'' "Krippendorf's Tribe", "The Greatest Game". In 2014 he produced the comedy ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]''. His final project, ''[[Ride Along 2]]'', was released in January 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kroll|first=Justin|title='Ride Along 2′ to Bow on Martin Luther King Weekend 2016|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/ride-along-2-to-bow-on-martin-luther-king-weekend-2016-1201132334/|accessdate=14 March 2014|newspaper=variety.com|date=13 March 2014}}</ref>


He died in [[Duarte, California]] in October 2015 from leukemia, which was diagnosed a few months earlier. Brezner is survived by his third wife, Dominique Cohen-Brezner, and two daughters, Lauren Azbill and China Brezner.<ref>https://variety.com/2015/film/news/larry-brezner-dead-robin-williams-billy-crystal-1201612119/</ref>
He died in [[Duarte, California]] in October 2015 from leukemia, which was diagnosed a few months earlier. Brezner is survived by his third wife, Dominique Cohen-Brezner, and two daughters, Lauren Azbill and China Brezner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/larry-brezner-dead-robin-williams-billy-crystal-1201612119/|title = Larry Brezner, Longtime Manager and Producer, Dies at 73|date = 7 October 2015}}</ref>


== Selected filmography ==
== Selected filmography ==
''All films, he was producer unless otherwise noted.''
He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

===Film===
===Film===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9;
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Arthur (1981 film)|Arthur]]'' || Executive producer<hr><small><center>Uncredited<center><small>
| 1981 || ''[[Arthur (1981 film)|Arthur]]'' || Executive producer || {{center|<small>Uncredited</small>}}
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 1987 || ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'' ||
|rowspan=2| 1987 || ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'' ||
| ''[[Good Morning, Vietnam]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 1989 || ''[[The 'Burbs]]'' ||
| 1989 || ''[[The 'Burbs]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Coupe de Ville (film)|Coupe de Ville]]'' ||
| 1990 || ''[[Coupe de Ville (film)|Coupe de Ville]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Passed Away (film)|Passed Away]]'' ||
| 1992 || ''[[Passed Away (film)|Passed Away]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 1993 || ''[[The Vanishing (1993 film)|The Vanishing]]'' ||
| 1993 || ''[[The Vanishing (1993 film)|The Vanishing]]'' || ||
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 1994 || ''[[Angie (1994 film)|Angie]]'' ||
|rowspan=2| 1994 || ''[[Angie (1994 film)|Angie]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| ''[[Clifford (film)|Clifford]]'' ||
| ''[[Clifford (film)|Clifford]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 1998 || ''[[Krippendorf's Tribe]]'' ||
| 1998 || ''[[Krippendorf's Tribe]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2000 || ''[[The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave]]'' || Direct-to-video
| 2000 || ''[[The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave]]'' || || Direct-to-video
|-
|-
| 2001 || ''[[Freddy Got Fingered]]'' ||
| 2001 || ''[[Freddy Got Fingered]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2002 || ''[[Sorority Boys]]'' ||
| 2002 || ''[[Sorority Boys]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2004 || ''[[The Last Shot]]'' ||
| 2004 || ''[[The Last Shot]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2005 || ''[[The Greatest Game Ever Played]]'' ||
| 2005 || ''[[The Greatest Game Ever Played]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2011 || ''[[Arthur (2011 film)|Arthur]]'' ||
| 2011 || ''[[Arthur (2011 film)|Arthur]]'' || ||
|-
|-
| 2014 || ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]'' || Final film as a producer
| 2014 || ''[[Ride Along (film)|Ride Along]]'' || || Final film as a producer
|-
|-
| 2016 || ''[[Ride Along 2]]'' || Posthumous credit
| 2016 || ''[[Ride Along 2]]'' || || Posthumous credit
|}
|}


;Thanks
;Thanks


{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9;
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
|-
|-
| 1992 || ''[[Crossing the Bridge]]'' || Thanks
| 1992 || ''[[Crossing the Bridge]]'' || Thanks
Line 68: Line 70:


===Television===
===Television===
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9;
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
|-
| 1980 || ''[[Good Time Harry]]'' || Executive producer
| 1980 || ''[[Good Time Harry]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|-
| 1981 || ''[[The Acorn People]]'' || Television film<hr>Executive producer
| 1981 || ''[[The Acorn People]]'' || Executive producer || Television film
|-
|-
| 1982 || ''The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour'' || Executive producer
| 1982 || ''The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|-
| 1984 || ''Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
| 1984 || ''Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| 1985 || ''Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
| 1985 || ''Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
|rowspan=3| 1986 || ''Robin Williams: Live at the Met'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
|rowspan=3| 1986 || ''Robin Williams: Live at the Met'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| ''The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
| ''The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| ''But Seriously, Folks'' || Television short<hr>Executive producer
| ''But Seriously, Folks'' || Executive producer || Television short
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 1987 || ''On Location: Women of the Night'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
|rowspan=2| 1987 || ''On Location: Women of the Night'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| ''The 11th Annual Young Comedians'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
| ''The 11th Annual Young Comedians'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| 1988 || ''The 12th Annual Young Comedians Special'' || Television special<hr>Executive producer
| 1988 || ''The 12th Annual Young Comedians Special'' || Executive producer || Television special
|-
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Good Grief (TV series)|Good Grief]]'' || Executive producer
| 1990 || ''[[Good Grief (TV series)|Good Grief]]'' || Executive producer ||
|-
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Little Britain USA]]'' || Executive producer
| 2008 || ''[[Little Britain USA]]'' || Executive producer ||
|}
|}


;Thanks
;Thanks


{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;" border="2" cellpadding="4" background: #f9f9f9;
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- align="center"
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Title
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Notes
|-
|-
| 2002 || ''Robin Williams Live on Broadway'' || Television special<hr>Special thanks
| 2002 || ''Robin Williams Live on Broadway'' ||rowspan=2| Special thanks ||rowspan=2| Television special
|-
|-
| 2009 || ''Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction'' || Television special<hr>Special thanks
| 2009 || ''Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction''
|}
|}


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0108368}}
* {{IMDb name|0108368}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Brezner, Larry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brezner, Larry}}
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[[Category:People from the Bronx]]
[[Category:People from the Bronx]]
[[Category:Film producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Film producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Deaths from leukemia in California]]

Latest revision as of 21:23, 6 November 2024

Lawrence Ira "Larry" Brezner (August 23, 1942 – October 5, 2015) was an American film producer, most notable for producing films such as Good Morning, Vietnam, Throw Momma from the Train, and Ride Along.

Life and career

[edit]

Born in the Bronx in New York City in 1942,[1] Brezner studied at the University of Bridgeport and St. John's University from which he graduated with a Masters in Psychology. He then was a teacher at an elementary school at PS 47 in the Bronx before he moved on to the entertainment industry. In 1974 he opened a night club in Manhattan, where he met the producer Jack Rollins.[2] In the same year he joined the company of Rollins & Charles H. Joffe with Buddy Morra and was their partner in the late 1970s. After Rollins and Joffe withdrew from the company, he, Buddy Morra, David Steinberg and Stephen Tenenbaum formed a new company, MBST Entertainment, Inc. (Morra Brezner Steinberg & Tenenbaum). His first wife was the singer Melissa Manchester; they met when she performed at his club, and Brezner managed her career during their seven-year marriage.[3] His second marriage to Bett Zimmerman also ended in divorce.[4]

From the mid-1980s, Brezner served as the executive producer for various comedy specials on US television. Brezner also managed the careers of artists such as Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Martin Short, Bette Midler and many other comedic talents.

In 1981 his first film project was the original Arthur, his first project as film producer in 1984 was Throw Momma from the Train. This was followed by Good Morning, Vietnam, The 'Burbs, and The Vanishing "Krippendorf's Tribe", "The Greatest Game". In 2014 he produced the comedy Ride Along. His final project, Ride Along 2, was released in January 2016.[5]

He died in Duarte, California in October 2015 from leukemia, which was diagnosed a few months earlier. Brezner is survived by his third wife, Dominique Cohen-Brezner, and two daughters, Lauren Azbill and China Brezner.[6]

Selected filmography

[edit]

He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.

Film

[edit]
Year Film Credit Notes
1981 Arthur Executive producer
Uncredited
1987 Throw Momma from the Train
Good Morning, Vietnam
1989 The 'Burbs
1990 Coupe de Ville
1992 Passed Away
1993 The Vanishing
1994 Angie
Clifford
1998 Krippendorf's Tribe
2000 The Extreme Adventures of Super Dave Direct-to-video
2001 Freddy Got Fingered
2002 Sorority Boys
2004 The Last Shot
2005 The Greatest Game Ever Played
2011 Arthur
2014 Ride Along Final film as a producer
2016 Ride Along 2 Posthumous credit
Thanks
Year Film Role
1992 Crossing the Bridge Thanks

Television

[edit]
Year Title Credit Notes
1980 Good Time Harry Executive producer
1981 The Acorn People Executive producer Television film
1982 The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour Executive producer
1984 Billy Crystal: A Comic's Line Executive producer Television special
1985 Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas Executive producer Television special
1986 Robin Williams: Live at the Met Executive producer Television special
The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion Executive producer Television special
But Seriously, Folks Executive producer Television short
1987 On Location: Women of the Night Executive producer Television special
The 11th Annual Young Comedians Executive producer Television special
1988 The 12th Annual Young Comedians Special Executive producer Television special
1990 Good Grief Executive producer
2008 Little Britain USA Executive producer
Thanks
Year Title Role Notes
2002 Robin Williams Live on Broadway Special thanks Television special
2009 Robin Williams: Weapons of Self Destruction

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Steve Chawkins: Larry Brezner dies at 73; movie producer and manager of top comic actors. In: Los Angeles Times, 10. October 2015
  2. ^ "Leading Hollywood Management Firm Joins CKX". Securities and Exchange Commission. 27 July 2005.
  3. ^ "Larry Brezner, Veteran Manager and Producer, Dies at 73". The Hollywood Reporter. 6 October 2015.
  4. ^ Margalit Fox: Larry Brezner, Hollywood Manager of Star Comics, Is Dead at 73. In: The New York Times, 11 October 2015
  5. ^ Kroll, Justin (13 March 2014). "'Ride Along 2′ to Bow on Martin Luther King Weekend 2016". variety.com. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  6. ^ "Larry Brezner, Longtime Manager and Producer, Dies at 73". 7 October 2015.
[edit]
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