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Brian Robbins

Brian Robbins (born Brian Levine, November 22, 1963) is an American businessman, producer, director, actor, and the current co-CEO of Paramount Global. He has been the president of Nickelodeon and president and CEO of Paramount Pictures since 2018 and 2021, respectively. He was named the co-CEO of Paramount Global in April 2024.[1]

Early life

Robbins was born on November 22, 1963 in New York City and raised in the Marine Park, Brooklyn neighborhood. His father was actor Floyd Levine.[2] When he was 16, he moved with his family to Los Angeles.[3] He graduated from Grant High School in 1982.[4]

Following his father into acting,[2] Robbins made his television debut on an episode of Trapper John, M.D.[4] He guest starred on a number of television series and had a recurring role on General Hospital.[4] As an actor, he is perhaps best known for 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, Robbins started producing the show All That and its spin-offs on Nickelodeon.[2] He has produced several sports films including Coach Carter and Hardball (2001). He produced Smallville and also One Tree Hill. He has often collaborated with producer Michael Tollin.[2]

Career

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

Robbins first joined Paramount in 2017 as the first President of Paramount Players, after which he became President of Nickelodeon in 2018, and then President, Kids & Family Entertainment, for ViacomCBS (now Paramount).[8] On October 1, 2018, he left his position as the president of Paramount Players after Viacom chose him to be the president of Nickelodeon, ending his 16-month run at the studio.[9] Despite leaving the studio, he remained involved with Paramount Players division Nickelodeon Movies.[10]

Robbins became head of Paramount Pictures in September 2021.[11][12] During his tenure, Robbins has overseen releases that have garnered more than $5 billion in global box office.[13]

As President and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins has focused on securing production deals with prominent filmmakers and revitalizing franchises such as Transformers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mission: Impossible, A Quiet Place, Scream, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PAW Patrol.[14][15][16][17][18] These partnerships have contributed to Paramount Pictures' $5 billion-plus global box office revenue, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol alone generating $2.5 billion in consumer products revenue in 2023.[19]

Robbins has been recognized for his strategic approach to theatrical release windows relative to streaming.[13] He shifted the release strategy of Smile and Mean Girls from streaming to theatrical, with Smile becoming the top-grossing original horror film of 2022, earning $217 million worldwide and becoming the studio's third most profitable film in a decade.[20] Mean Girls grossed $107 million globally and led the domestic box office for three consecutive weeks.[21] Robbins has also strengthened Paramount Animation and Paramount's consumer products division through the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol. Robbins has emphasized allowing intellectual property-driven properties to drive other lines of business, particularly consumer products.[19]

On April 29, 2024, Robbins, along with George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, became co-CEOs after Bob Bakish stepped down from his role.[22]

Robbins is a board member of the Motion Picture Association; a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; sits on the board of trustees for the AFI and is the recipient of a Directors Guild Award, a Peabody Award, and the Pioneer Prize from the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.[23]

Personal life

He married publicist Laura Cathcart and they had two sons together before divorcing in 2013. He married stylist Tracy James in 2014.[24] They have a daughter, and live with his sons in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.[24][25]

Filmography

Film

Producer only

Television

Executive producer only

Special thanks

Acting credits

Awards and nominations

References

  1. ^ "Paramount Global replaces CEO Bob Bakish with a troika of executives". ABC News. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Koch, Neal (December 1, 2002). "Business; Stepping Up in TV, Without Stepping on Toes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Nicewonger, Kirk (July 30, 1988). "Busy, busy time for Brian Robbins". Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d Knutzen, Eirik (October 4, 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" Archived July 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Deadline Hollywood.
  7. ^ Jarvey, Natalie (February 22, 2017). "Brian Robbins and AwesomenessTV" Archived March 6, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. The Hollywood Reporter.
  8. ^ McNary, Dave (June 7, 2017). "Paramount Pictures Launches New Production Division Headed by Brian Robbins". Archived from the original on December 19, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 1, 2018). "Brian Robbins Named President Of Nickelodeon". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  10. ^ Sandberg, Bryn Elise (October 1, 2018). "Viacom Names Brian Robbins President of Nickelodeon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  11. ^ "About | ViacomCBS". ViacomCBS. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  12. ^ Hayes, Dade (September 13, 2021). "Paramount Pictures Revamp Made Official By ViacomCBS: Jim Gianopulos Exits, Brian Robbins Takes Over; David Nevins Adds Par TV To Portfolio". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 17, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Paramount Global Announces Leadership Shakeup". thelicensingletter.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "John Krasinski's Sunday Night Label Extends Deal With Paramount Pictures – CinemaCon". Deadline. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Reups First Look With Paramount Pictures". Deadline. February 8, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Neal H. Moritz, Paramount Renew First Look Production Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "Lorenzo di Bonaventura Extends Producing Deal With Paramount". Deadline. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "'Smile' Filmmaker Parker Finn Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "With 'Ninja Turtles' and 'Paw Patrol,' Paramount's animated franchise strategy pays off". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Naomi Scott to Star in 'Smile' Sequel at Paramount". The Wrap. December 13, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  21. ^ "Mean Girls Surpasses $100 Million at Global Box Office". Variety. April 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 29, 2024). "It's Official: Bob Bakish Is Out At Paramount Global, Trio Of Division Heads Form New Office Of The CEO". Deadline. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  23. ^ "The People Who Drive our Business". Paramount.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Rus, Mayer (February 26, 2020). "Inside a Dreamy Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent–Designed 1925 Tudor". Architectural Digest. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  25. ^ "Brian Robbins". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  26. ^ 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).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Robbins (Nickelodeon).