Hollywood Studio Executive. He was a co-founder of Orion Pictures who had also worked for United Artists and Paramount Pictures. He worked for United Artists in its motion picture legal department in 1959 and was involved in the acquisition of rights to the James Bond franchise, along with working on “Rocky,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Midnight Cowboy.” Along with four others, he left United Artists and started Orion Pictures in 1978 as a mini-major that was the first significant new player in Hollywood in many decades. He was known for coming up with the name of the studio. Between 1984 and 1991, Orion released four films that won the Academy Award for best picture: “Amadeus,” “Platoon,” “Dances With Wolves” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” The latter also accomplished the rare feat of winning Oscars in four other major categories: best actor for Anthony Hopkins, best actress for Jodie Foster, best director for Jonathan Demme and best adapted screenplay for Ted Tally. However, losses from other films put Orion in a position where it had to file for bankruptcy in 1992. Bernstein left early that year to become executive vice president of Paramount. Orion had sold “The Addams Family” to Paramount where it became a hit. He stayed at Paramount for over ten years and was involved in the development and production of “Titanic,” “Braveheart” and “Forrest Gump.”
Hollywood Studio Executive. He was a co-founder of Orion Pictures who had also worked for United Artists and Paramount Pictures. He worked for United Artists in its motion picture legal department in 1959 and was involved in the acquisition of rights to the James Bond franchise, along with working on “Rocky,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and “Midnight Cowboy.” Along with four others, he left United Artists and started Orion Pictures in 1978 as a mini-major that was the first significant new player in Hollywood in many decades. He was known for coming up with the name of the studio. Between 1984 and 1991, Orion released four films that won the Academy Award for best picture: “Amadeus,” “Platoon,” “Dances With Wolves” and “The Silence of the Lambs.” The latter also accomplished the rare feat of winning Oscars in four other major categories: best actor for Anthony Hopkins, best actress for Jodie Foster, best director for Jonathan Demme and best adapted screenplay for Ted Tally. However, losses from other films put Orion in a position where it had to file for bankruptcy in 1992. Bernstein left early that year to become executive vice president of Paramount. Orion had sold “The Addams Family” to Paramount where it became a hit. He stayed at Paramount for over ten years and was involved in the development and production of “Titanic,” “Braveheart” and “Forrest Gump.”
Bio by: Glendora
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