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Brian Robbins

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brian Robbins
Robbins in 2019
Born
Brian Levine

(1963-11-22) November 22, 1963 (age 61)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film producer
  • director
  • actor
Years active1982–present
Spouses
Laura Cathcart
​
(div. 2013)​
Tracy Robbins
​
(m. 2014)​
Children3
FatherFloyd Levine

Brian Robbins (born Brian Levine, November 22, 1963) is an American filmmaker and businessman. He is the Co-CEO of Paramount Global; President and Chief Executive Officer of Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon; and Chief Content Officer, Movies & Kids & Family, Paramount+. As President & CEO of Paramount Pictures, Robbins oversees the filmed entertainment division's creative strategy and worldwide business operations including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.[1]

Early life

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Robbins was born on November 22, 1963 in New York City and raised in the Marine Park, Brooklyn neighborhood. Robbins was born to a Jewish family. His father is the 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

[edit]

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 of 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] In this role, he is focused on driving Paramount's multi-platform strategy and theatrical success through a diversified portfolio of films. Robbins is also at the forefront of securing strategic filmmaker partnerships to expand the studio's global franchise business across live-action features, animation, consumer products and themed entertainment.[13][14][15][16][17] Robbins brings unique experience and an unconventionally diversified and entrepreneurial background, with vast experience on both the business and creative sides of the industry including as an actor, writer, producer, director and company founder; poising him to help lead an entertainment entity at the scale of Paramount Global.

As President and CEO of Paramount Pictures, Brian Robbins has expanded and revitalized beloved franchises such as Transformers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mission: Impossible, A Quiet Place, Scream, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and PAW Patrol, with the latter two earning a combined $2.5B in consumer products revenue in 2023 alone.[18] Robbins has emphasized allowing intellectual property-driven brands to drive other lines of business, particularly consumer products. Robbins has been instrumental in leading a multi-platform franchise strategy including greenlighting both a third Sonic The Hedgehog film and the spinoff series Knuckles. Most recently, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 surpassed the $405 million box offie record of the previous film and the film franchise surpassed $1.2 billion in worldwide box office gross across its three movies.[19] Following its debut, Knuckles, in its first 28 days streaming on Paramount+, earned over 11M total global hours and is the #1 Kids & Family series ever in terms of hours.[20]

Under Robbins' tenure, Paramount Pictures has to-date earned over $6B in worldwide box office gross and boasted numerous #1 hits, including Top Gun: Maverick, the studio's biggest film ever. In 2024, Robbins oversaw the theatrical release of five #1 openings, including Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Smile 2, Bob Marley: One Love, Mean Girls, and IF.

Robbins has been recognized for his strategic approach to theatrical release windows relative to streaming.[21] As an example of this, he shifted the release strategy of Smile from streaming to theatrical, with Smile becoming the top-grossing original horror film of that year and becoming the studio's third most profitable film in a decade.[22] ' 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.[18]

On April 29, 2024, Robbins, along with George Cheeks and Chris McCarthy, became co-CEOs after Bob Bakish stepped down from his role.[23]

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.[24]

Personal life

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He married publicist Laura Cathcart and they had two sons together before divorcing in 2013. He married stylist Tracy James in 2014.[25] They have a daughter, and live with his sons in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.[25][26]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Producer Notes
1995 The Show Yes Yes Documentary film
1997 Good Burger Yes Yes Also executive soundtrack producer
1999 Varsity Blues Yes Yes
2000 Ready to Rumble Yes No
2001 Hardball Yes Yes
2004 The Perfect Score Yes Yes
2006 The Shaggy Dog Yes No
2007 Norbit Yes Executive Nominated- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director
2008 Meet Dave Yes No
2012 A Thousand Words Yes Yes Filmed in 2008

Producer only

Acting roles

Year Title Role
1988 Cellar Dweller Phillip Lemley
1989 C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. Steve Williams

Television

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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

Thanks credits

Acting roles

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[27] Young Man Episode "Alex the Gofer"
1983 Teachers Only Vinnie Minetti Episodes "Praise the Lord and Pasta Ammunition" & "Rex, the Wonder Husband"
Three's Company Mark Furley Episode "Janet's Little Helper"
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"
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

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Year Award Result Category Title
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)
2016 Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Children's Series Project Mc²: Season 1

References

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  1. ^ "Paramount CEO Bakish Is Out, Replaced by Trio of Executives". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  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" . 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. ^ "John Krasinski's Sunday Night Label Extends Deal With Paramount Pictures – CinemaCon". Deadline. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Reups First Look With Paramount Pictures". Deadline. February 8, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Neal H. Moritz, Paramount Renew First Look Production Deal". The Hollywood Reporter. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Lorenzo di Bonaventura Extends Producing Deal With Paramount". Deadline. April 11, 2024. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "'Smile' Filmmaker Parker Finn Signs First-Look Deal With Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. March 15, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "With 'Ninja Turtles' and 'Paw Patrol,' Paramount's animated franchise strategy pays off". Los Angeles Times. December 15, 2023.
  19. ^ "How a $5 million fix turned Paramount Pictures' 'Sonic' into a billion-dollar franchise". CNBC. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  20. ^ "'Sonic the Hedgehog' Franchise Zooms Past $1B Global Box Office". Deadline. Retrieved March 28, 2025.
  21. ^ "Paramount Global Announces Leadership Shakeup". thelicensingletter.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Naomi Scott to Star in 'Smile' Sequel at Paramount". The Wrap. December 13, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ "The People Who Drive our Business". Paramount.com. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Brian Robbins". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  27. ^ 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).
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brian Robbins (Nickelodeon).
Preceded by Nickelodeon president
2018–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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