Simon Kornblit
Encyclopedia
Simon Kornblit was a Belgian
-born American
studio executive and actor
. Kornblit worked as the Executive Vice President of worldwide marketing for Universal Pictures
before pursuing an acting career during retirement
.
, on August 1, 1933. His father, Nathan Kornblit, was a diamond cutter
originally from Poland
, while his mother, Sonia, was Russia
n. Kornblit fled the country with his parents and sister, Dora, in 1940, just months before the invasion of Belgium by Nazi Germany
. The family escaped to the United States
in a cargo ship
. (The same ship was later attacked and sunk on its return trip to Europe.)
Kornblit settled with his family in New York City
, where he graduated from Stuyvesant High School
in 1951.
and advertising
by working in the mailroom
at DDB Worldwide
in New York as a summer job in high school. DDB (Doyle Dane Bernbach) had less than 20 employees when Kornblit joined the company, where he would work for 35 years. Kornblit simultaneously attended the School of Commerce and Management
at New York University while at DDB. He temporarily left DDB to enlist in the United States Army
during the Korean War
.
He was gradually promoted within DDB. Kornblit was responsible for managing such advertising accounts as American Tourister
's "The Gorilla with the Suitcase” commercial
early in his career. He later decided to relocate from New York City to the DDB Worldwide offices in Los Angeles
to be closer to his main clients in the entertainment industry, 20th Century Fox
and Universal Pictures
. He would ultimately become Executive Vice President and general manager
of DDB Worldwide in Los Angeles. Kornblit headed the advertising campaign
for 20th Century Fox
launch of Star Wars
in 1977.
Kornblit left DDB and joined Universal Pictures
in 1987. He oversaw the marketing campaigns for the release
s of more than 100 films for Universal Pictures from 1987 until 1993, including Field of Dreams
(1989), Fried Green Tomatoes
(1994) and Jurassic Park
(1993). Kornblit was named a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
for the Academy Awards
for his work.
to be closer to family in the Southeast. The couple ultimately settled in Sandy Springs, Georgia
.
Kornblit quickly became involved with the arts and entertainment industries in Atlanta. He co-founded and developed Kennesaw State University
's film institute, also serving as its director from 2001 until 2003. He was a member of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival's executive committee and co-chaired the High Museum of Art
's photo forum. He also served on the board of governors for the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Kornblit also lectured as a guest professor of film marketing at Georgia State University
and the Goizueta Business School
at Emory University
.
Kornblit decided to become an actor during his early 70s. He trained under Steve Coulter
and other Atlanta area acting coaches. He was able to get a talent agent
after just six weeks of study. Kornblit landed roles in local community theater productions, independent films and television pilot
s.
Simon Kornblit died of acute myeloid leukemia
at his home in Sandy Springs on July 2, 2010, at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife, Bobbi; sister, Dora; daughters, Brenda Kennell and Dee Grannan; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
studio executive and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. Kornblit worked as the Executive Vice President of worldwide marketing for Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
before pursuing an acting career during retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
.
Early life
Simon Kornblit was born to a Jewish family in Antwerp, BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, on August 1, 1933. His father, Nathan Kornblit, was a diamond cutter
Diamond cutting
Diamond cutting is the art, skill and, increasingly, science of changing a diamond from a rough stone into a faceted gem. Cutting diamond requires specialized knowledge, tools, equipment, and techniques because of its extreme difficulty....
originally from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, while his mother, Sonia, was Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n. Kornblit fled the country with his parents and sister, Dora, in 1940, just months before the invasion of Belgium by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. The family escaped to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in a cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
. (The same ship was later attacked and sunk on its return trip to Europe.)
Kornblit settled with his family in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he graduated from Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School
Stuyvesant High School , commonly referred to as Stuy , is a New York City public high school that specializes in mathematics and science. The school opened in 1904 on Manhattan's East Side and moved to a new building in Battery Park City in 1992. Stuyvesant is noted for its strong academic...
in 1951.
Career
Kornblit began his career in marketingMarketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
by working in the mailroom
Mailroom
A mailroom is a room in which incoming and outgoing mail is processed and sorted. Mailrooms are commonly found in schools, offices, apartment buildings, and the generic post office....
at DDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide
DDB Worldwide Communications Group Inc., known internationally as DDB, is a worldwide marketing communications network. It is owned by Omnicom Group Inc, one of the world's largest advertising holding companies...
in New York as a summer job in high school. DDB (Doyle Dane Bernbach) had less than 20 employees when Kornblit joined the company, where he would work for 35 years. Kornblit simultaneously attended the School of Commerce and Management
New York University Stern School of Business
The Leonard N. Stern School of Business is New York University's business school. It was established in 1900 as the NYU School of Commerce, Accounts and Finance. In 1988 it was named after Leonard N. Stern, an alumnus and benefactor of the school...
at New York University while at DDB. He temporarily left DDB to enlist in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
He was gradually promoted within DDB. Kornblit was responsible for managing such advertising accounts as American Tourister
American Tourister
American Tourister is a well known brand of suitcase.Immigrant Sol Koffler founded American Luggage Works in Providence, Rhode Island in either 1932 or 1933 with his life savings. He was determined to produce luggage priced at $1 in the midst of the Great Depression...
's "The Gorilla with the Suitcase” commercial
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
early in his career. He later decided to relocate from New York City to the DDB Worldwide offices in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to be closer to his main clients in the entertainment industry, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
and Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. He would ultimately become Executive Vice President and general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of DDB Worldwide in Los Angeles. Kornblit headed the advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
for 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
launch of Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
in 1977.
Kornblit left DDB and joined Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
in 1987. He oversaw the marketing campaigns for the release
Film release
A film release is the stage at which a completed film is legally authorized by its owner for public distribution.The process includes locating a distributor to handle the film...
s of more than 100 films for Universal Pictures from 1987 until 1993, including Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams
Field of Dreams is a 1989 American fantasy-drama film directed by Phil Alden Robinson and is from the novel Shoeless Joe by W. P. Kinsella...
(1989), Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried Green Tomatoes (film)
Fried Green Tomatoes is a 1991 comedy-drama film based on the novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg. It was released in the UK under the novel's full title. Directed by Jon Avnet and written by Fannie Flagg and Carol Sobieski, it stars Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy,...
(1994) and Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
(1993). Kornblit was named a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of motion pictures...
for the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for his work.
Later life
Kornblit retired from Universal Pictures in 1993. He moved with his wife, Bobbi, to Atlanta in 1994, following the Northridge earthquakeNorthridge earthquake
The Northridge earthquake was a massive earthquake that occurred on January 17, 1994, at 04:31 Pacific Standard Time in Reseda, a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, lasting for about 10–20 seconds...
to be closer to family in the Southeast. The couple ultimately settled in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
.
Kornblit quickly became involved with the arts and entertainment industries in Atlanta. He co-founded and developed Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University, also referred to as KSU, Kennesaw, or Kennesaw State, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive university that is part of the University System of Georgia. The university's main campus is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States, approximately north of Atlanta...
's film institute, also serving as its director from 2001 until 2003. He was a member of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival's executive committee and co-chaired the High Museum of Art
High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art , located in Atlanta, is the leading art museum in the Southeastern United States and one of the most-visited art museums in the world. Located on Peachtree Street in Midtown, the city's arts district, the High is a division of the Woodruff Arts Center.-History:The Museum was...
's photo forum. He also served on the board of governors for the Atlanta chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Kornblit also lectured as a guest professor of film marketing at Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
and the Goizueta Business School
Goizueta Business School
Goizueta Business School is a private business school of Emory University located in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. It is named after Roberto Goizueta, a former president of The Coca-Cola Company.-Academics:...
at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
.
Kornblit decided to become an actor during his early 70s. He trained under Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter
Steve Coulter is a team owner in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His team, Xpress Motorsports, won the Truck Series championship in 2002 and 2003, with Mike Bliss and Travis Kvapil, respectively. He has also fielded cars in the Busch Series and part-time in the Winston Cup series part-time. He...
and other Atlanta area acting coaches. He was able to get a talent agent
Talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
after just six weeks of study. Kornblit landed roles in local community theater productions, independent films and television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
s.
Simon Kornblit died of acute myeloid leukemia
Myeloid leukemia
Myeloid leukemia is a type of leukemia affecting myeloid tissue.Types include:* Acute myeloid leukemia* Chronic myelogenous leukemia...
at his home in Sandy Springs on July 2, 2010, at the age of 76. He was survived by his wife, Bobbi; sister, Dora; daughters, Brenda Kennell and Dee Grannan; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.