Legendary Hollywood manager Bernie Brillstein passed away on Thursday.

I got up this morning to some sad news…legendary Hollywood agent/manager/studio exec Bernie Brillstein has died of heart disease at the age of 77. Bernie was known in the entertainment industry as what the Hollywood reporter called a “brash and gregarious old-school Hollywood fixture who worked his way up from the WMA mailroom in 1956 to become one of the most powerful and respected brokers of talent in the entertainment business.” He was responsible for managing the careers of many of Hollywood’s biggest stars including Adam Sandler, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Gary Sinise, among others.

One of his most famous and successful clients was Jim Henson; Bernie negotiated many of key deals that helped the Muppets rise to international fame in the 1970s, famously without even ever having a written contract (they did business on a handshake). He was also a behind the scenes force on Paul Fusco’s puppet sitcom Alf in the 1980s. Bernie’s memoir Where Did I Go Right? You’re No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead is a great read and contains lots of anecdotes about his relationship with the Muppets and Alf.

Rest in Peace Bernie Brillstein and thanks for helping so many people keep us so well entertained all these years.