Sanford “Sandy” Wernick, a longtime talent manager for clients including Adam Sandler, who became a partner and senior vice president at Brillstein Entertainment Partners, died Thursday in Rancho Mirage, California. He passed away at the age of 86.
Wernick signed Sandler as a client when he was just 22 years old, before appearing on “Saturday Night Live,” and Sandler’s Netflix film “Sandy Wexler” paid homage to Wernick’s reputation as a master dealmaker.
At Brillstein, Wernick worked in personal management, television and film packaging, and production. He started in business as an agent and worked his way up from the mailroom at MCA to vice president of television at ICM.
In addition to co-creating and executive producing “Def Comedy Jam,” he also worked on packaging and producing shows such as “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 an executive producer on feature films such as “Happy Gilmore,” “Billy Madison,” “The Wedding Singer,” and “Bulletproof.” Wernick also made cameo appearances as an actor in several films and television shows.
As a manager and agent, his clients include Sandler, Tim Herlihy, John Davis, Akira (Leo) Yoshimura, Lorne Michaels, Ray Clausen, Don Misher, Stan Lathan, Jeff Ross, and Marilyn. – Included actors, writers, producers, directors, and designers, including Wilson, Marty Pacetta, Victor Levin, Buzz Cohan, Colin Quinn, Rob Schneider, Norm Crosby, Peter Falk, and Alexandra. Pelosi.
Wernick also served as an adjunct professor in the Peter Stark Producing Program at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and as a volunteer at the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Room.
Born in the Bronx, he graduated from New York University and served in the Army from 1960 to 1962.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara, daughter Michelle, son Barry, daughter-in-law Gillian, grandson Sammy, sister Joyce, and brother-in-law Jules.
A private service in Palm Desert will be followed by a memorial service in Los Angeles at a later date.
