Brian Robbins

Brian Levine (born November 22, 1963), known professionally as Brian Robbins, is an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who is currently the President of Kids & Family Entertainment at ViacomCBS.[2] He’s currently the President of Nickelodeon. He has often collaborated with producer Michael Tollin.[3]

Brian Robbins
Robbins in 1988
Born
Brian Levine

(1963-11-22) November 22, 1963
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor, film director, film producer, television director, television producer, screenwriter
Years active1982–present
Spouse(s)Laura Cathcart (?-2013), Tracy James (2014-present)[1]
Children3

Career

Robbins followed his father Floyd Levine, a prolific character actor, into acting.[3] Brian Robbins made his television acting debut on an episode of Trapper John, M.D.[4] He guest starred on a number and television series and a recurring role on General Hospital.[4] As an actor, he is perhaps best known from his role as Eric Mardian on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class.[4] He also hosted the children's version of the TV game show Pictionary in 1989.

In the 1990s, he started producing All That and its spin-offs on Nickelodeon.[3] He has produced several sports films including Coach Carter and Hardball (2001). He produced Smallville and also produced One Tree Hill.

Robbins is the founder of AwesomenessTV, a YouTube channel aimed at teenagers, which has spun off into a TV series, of which Robbins is the executive producer.[5] DreamWorks Animation acquired the company in 2013.[6] On February 22, 2017, following NBCUniversal/Comcast's acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, Brian Robbins stepped down as AwesomenessTV's CEO, thus ending his five-year run with the company.[7]

On June 7, 2017, Brian Robbins became the president of Paramount Players, a newly formed division of Paramount Pictures. Robbins will work with Viacom’s Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and BET brands to generate projects while also focusing on "contemporary properties."[8]

On October 1, 2018, Brian Robbins left his position as the president of Paramount Players after Viacom tapped him to be the president of Nickelodeon, ending his 16–month run at the studio. Despite leaving the studio, he remained involved with Paramount Players' Nickelodeon films.[9]

Personal life

Robbins was born Brian Levine in Brooklyn, New York on November 22, 1963.[3] When Robbins was 16, his family moved to Los Angeles.[10] He graduated from Grant High School in 1982.[4]

Robbins is Jewish.[11] He was married to publicist Laura Cathcart, with whom he has two sons, Miles and Justin. They divorced in 2013. Robbins went on to marry his ex-wife's friend, Tracy James. They have a daughter named Stella.[12]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Director Producer Writer Notes
1995 The Show Yes Yes No Documentary film
1997 Good Burger Yes Yes No
1999 Varsity Blues Yes Yes No
2000 Ready to Rumble Yes No No
2001 Hardball Yes Yes No
Summer Catch Yes Yes No
2002 Big Fat Liar No Yes Story
2004 The Perfect Score Yes Yes No
2006 The Shaggy Dog Yes No No
2007 Norbit Yes Executive No Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
2008 Meet Dave Yes No No
2012 A Thousand Words Yes Yes No Filmed in 2008

Producer only

Television
Year Title Director Executive
Producer		 Writer Notes
1988 Head of the Class No No Yes Episode "Will the Real Arvid Engen Please Stand Up?"
1994 All That No Yes Yes Also creator
1996 Kenan & Kel Yes Yes No 5 episodes
1998-2001 Cousin Skeeter Yes Yes Yes Also creator;
Wrote "A Family Thing", directed "Skeeter's Toy Story"
1999 Popular Yes No No Episode "The Phantom Menace"
2001 The Nightmare Room Yes Yes No Episode "Four Eyes"
2002 Birds of Prey Yes Yes No Episode "Pilot"
2005 All That 10th Anniversary Reunion Special No No Yes TV special
2010 Blue Mountain State Yes Yes No 2 episodes
2011 Supah Ninjas Yes Yes No 2 episodes

Executive producer only

Acting credits
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Harper Valley PTA Charlie's Nephew Episode "The Return of Charlie's Chow Palace"
Archie Bunker's Place Danny Ferguson Episode "Double Date"
The Facts of Life Ben Episode "For the Asking"
Taxi[13] Young Man Episode "Alex the Gofer"
1983 Three's Company Mark Episode "Praise the Lord and Pasta Ammunition"
Knight Rider Randy Merritt Episode "Soul Survivor"
1984 Diff'rent Strokes Skyhigh Episode "Undercover Lover"
Newhart Rob Episode "The Fan"
1985 Charles in Charge Todd Baldwin Episode "Mr. President"
Growing Pains Mitch Episode "Dirt Bike"
1986 The Gladiator Jeff Benton TV movie
Mr. Belvedere Eric Episode "The Dropout"
1986-1991 Head of the Class Eric Mardian 114 episodes
1987 Kids Incorporated Brian Episode "Win a Date with Renee"
1988 Cellar Dweller Phillip Lemley
1989 C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. Steve Williams
1990 Camp Cucamonga Roger Berg TV movie
1992 Full House David Janolari Episodes "Captain Video: Part 1" and "Captain Video: Part 2"
1997 Kenan & Kel Risotto Episode "Safe and Sorry"

Awards and nominations
Year Award Result Category Film or series
1993 Heartland Film Festival Won Crystal Heart Award Hardwood Dreams (Shared with Mike Tollin)
1995 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Informational Special Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream (Shared with Debra Martin Chase, Fredric Golding, Dorian Harewood, David Houle, Tom McMahon, Pat Mitchell, Jack Myers, Vivian Schiller, Mike Tollin, Denzel Washington)
1996 CableACE Award Won Children's Special - 7 and Older Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (Shared with Leonard Armato, Bruce Binkow, Robert Mickelson, Shaquille O'Neal, Mike Tollin, For the special "4 Points")
1997 Directors Guild of America Award Nominated Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (For the special "4 Points")
1998 Won Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (Shared with W. Alexander Ellis, Cynthia Riddle, Brad Uecker: for episode "First Time")
2005 Black Movie Awards Nominated Outstanding Motion Picture Coach Carter (Shared with David Gale, Mike Tollin)

References
  1. "Brian Robbins". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. "About | ViacomCBS". About | ViacomCBS.
  3. Koch, Neal (1 December 2002). "Business; Stepping Up in TV, Without Stepping on Toes". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  4. Knutzen, Eirik (4 October 1987). "Rebel jumps to 'Head of the Class'". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  5. Chmielewski, Dawn C. (August 7, 2012). "YouTube channel AwesomenessTV attracts outside funding". Los Angeles Times.
  6. Lieberman, David (May 1, 2013). "DreamWorks Animation Agrees To Pay $33M+ For AwesomenessTV". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. Jarvey, Natalie (February 22, 2017). "Brian Robbins and AwesomenessTV". The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. McNary, Dave (June 7, 2017). "Paramount Pictures Launches New Production Division Headed by Brian Robbins". Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. Sandberg, Bryn Elise (October 1, 2018). "Viacom Names Brian Robbins President of Nickelodeon". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  10. Nicewonger, Kirk (30 July 1988). "Busy, busy time for Brian Robbins". Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  11. Bloom, Nate. "Interfaith Celebrities: Meet Dave, Elizabeth Banks, and Jean Sarkozky". InterfaithFamily. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  12. Rus, Mayer. "Inside a Dreamy Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent–Designed 1925 Tudor". Architectural Digest. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  13. Michael Lessac (director) (2014). Taxi: Die Finale Season [The Final Season] (DVD) (in German and English). Germany: Paramount Home Media Distribution / Paramount Home Entertainment (Germany).
Preceded by
Cyma Zarghami		 Nickelodeon president
2018–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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