Brandon Tartikoff

Brandon Tartikoff
Tartikoff in 1988
Born	January 13, 1949 Freeport, New York, U.S.
Died	August 27, 1997(1997-08-27) (aged 48) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Yale University Lawrenceville School
Occupations	Television network executive Hollywood studio chairman
Employers	NBC Paramount
Known for	The Cosby Show (1984–1992) Seinfeld (1989–1998) Cheers (1982–1993) The Golden Girls (1985–1992) Law & Order (1990–2010) Family Ties (1982–1989) Miami Vice (1984–1989)
Office	President of NBC Entertainment
Term	1981–1991
Predecessor	Fred Silverman
Successor	Warren Littlefield
Spouse	Lilly Samuels (1982–1997, his death)
Children	2

Brandon Tartikoff (January 13, 1949 – August 27, 1997) was an American television executive who was head of the entertainment division of NBC from 1981 to 1991.^[1] He was credited with turning around NBC's low prime time reputation with several hit series: Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, Law & Order, ALF, Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Cheers, Seinfeld, The Golden Girls, Wings, Miami Vice, Knight Rider, The A-Team, Saved by the Bell, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, St. Elsewhere, and Night Court.

Tartikoff also helped develop the 1984 sitcom Punky Brewster; he named the title character after a girl he had a crush on in school. He was also involved in the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Beggars and Choosers.