Sanford “Sandy” Wernick, the longtime talent manager of clients including Adam Sandler who became partner and senior executive VP at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, died Thursday in Rancho Mirage, Calif. He was 86.
Wernick signed Sandler as a client when Sandler was just 22 years old, before he appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” and his Netflix movie “Sandy Wexler” paid homage to Wernick’s reputation as a master dealmaker.
At Brillstein, Wernick was involved in personal management, TV and motion picture packaging and producing. He started in the business out as an agent, working his way from the MCA mailroom to VP of the TV division at ICM.
In addition to co-creating and executive producing “Def Comedy Jam,” he was integral to packaging and producing shows including “Saturday Night Live.” “The Muppet Show,” “The Sopranos,” “Politically Incorrect,” “Just Shoot Me,” “NewsRadio,” Alf,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Rules of Engagement,” “The Goldbergs,” “The Jim Gaffigan Show” and “Buffalo Bill.”
He served as executive producer on feature films including “Happy Gilmore,” “Billy Madison,” “The Wedding Singer” and “Bulletproof.” Wernick also made cameo appearances as an actor in several motion pictures and TV shows.
His clients as a manager and agent included actors, writers, producers, directors and designers such as Sandler, Tim Herlihy, John Davies, Akira (Leo) Yoshimura, Lorne Michaels, Ray Klausen, Don Mischer, Stan Lathan, Jeff Ross, Marilyn Wilson, Marty Pasetta, Victor Levin, Buz Kohan, Colin Quinn, Rob Schneider, Norm Crosby, Peter Falk and Alexandra Pelosi.
Wernick also served as an Adjunct Professor at the USC School of Cinematic Arts’ Peter Stark Producing Program and as a volunteer in the Cedars Sinai Emergency Room.
Born in the Bronx, he graduated NYU and served in the Army from 1960-1962.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara, daughter Michele, son Barry and daughter-in-law Jillian, grandson Sammy, sister Joyce and brother-in-law Jules.
Private services in Palm Desert will be followed by a memorial in Los Angeles at a later date.
