23 Facts About Sidney Sheinberg

1.

Sidney Jay Sheinberg was an American lawyer and entertainment executive.

2.

Sidney Sheinberg served as President and CEO of MCA Inc and Universal Studios for over 20 years.

3.

In 1955, Sidney Sheinberg graduated from Columbia University and subsequently attended Columbia Law School, as both a Harlan Fiske Stone and James Kent Scholar, where he obtained his JD.

4.

Sidney Sheinberg was a recipient of Columbia Law School's highest honors awarded to alumni: the Medal of Excellence and the John Jay Award.

5.

In 1962, Sidney Sheinberg was involved in MCA's acquisition of Universal.

6.

In June 1973, Sidney Sheinberg was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of MCA, Inc and Universal Studios, serving alongside Lew Wasserman.

7.

Sidney Sheinberg attached Spielberg to the project and despite many headwinds, pushed for the picture to be released.

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8.

Sidney Sheinberg hired his wife to appear in the film.

9.

Sidney Sheinberg famously wanted to change the name from "Back to the Future" to "Space Man From Pluto" despite the film having nothing to do with outer space, spacemen, or the dwarf planet Pluto.

10.

Sidney Sheinberg sent director Spielberg a copy of the book along with a New York Times review.

11.

Sidney Sheinberg saw significant opportunity in the music industry and led MCA Music Entertainment's acquisition of Motown in 1988 for $61 million and Geffen Records in 1990 for $550 million.

12.

In 1982, Sidney Sheinberg was quoted saying, "You'd better start saving money to pay your attorney's fees, I view litigation as a profit center" during a meeting to get Nintendo to pay Universal royalties for Nintendo's Donkey Kong franchise.

13.

In 1984, as part of MCA's potential acquisition of The Walt Disney Company, Sheinberg agreed to vacate his role as MCA President in order to allow Disney CEO Ron W Miller to assume the role.

14.

Sidney Sheinberg departed Universal in July 1995, following the takeover of the studio by the Seagram Company.

15.

Sidney Sheinberg produced several feature films through his production company The Bubble Factory over the decade that followed.

16.

Sidney Sheinberg served on the National Board of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

17.

Sidney Sheinberg was a member of the Board of Trustees of Pitzer College, the Board of The American Jewish Committee, the Board of Research To Prevent Blindness and the Board of Trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

18.

Sidney Sheinberg was the Vice Chairman of Human Rights Watch and the co-founder of the Children's Action Network.

19.

Sidney Sheinberg was honored by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force for his life's work in civil rights and inclusive support of the LGBT community.

20.

Sidney Sheinberg received Columbia College's John Jay Award in 1981 for distinguished professional achievement, the American Jewish Committee's Human Relations Award in 1982, the National Conference of Christians and Jews Humanitarian Award in 1983, and Pioneer Of The Year Award in 1984 from the Motion Picture Pioneers, as well as the rank of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1984 bestowed by the French government.

21.

Sidney Sheinberg received the AIDS Project Los Angeles Commitment to Life Award in 1991, the Medal of Honor from the American Academy of Achievement in 1994 and the GLAAD Media Award in 1996.

22.

Sidney Sheinberg Place, was dedicated in his honor February 4,2008, at a ceremony honoring the former studio chief.

23.

Sidney Sheinberg died in Beverly Hills, California, on March 7,2019, at the age of 84 from Parkinson's disease.