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| Matty Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Name | Matty Simmons |
| Birth date | 1926-12-25 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York |
| Death date | 2020-10-28 |
| Death place | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Publisher, film producer, executive |
| Years active | 1950s–2010s |
Matty Simmons was an American publisher, media executive, and film producer best known for his leadership role at National Lampoon and for producing landmark comedy films. He began his career in magazine publishing in New York City, rose through corporate ranks in consumer publishing, and later co-founded and managed ventures that translated satirical journalism into motion pictures and television. Simmons worked with prominent figures across publishing and film industry circles, influencing comedy culture and the development of franchise properties.
Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Simmons grew up during the Great Depression and served in the United States Army during the postwar era. He attended New York University for undergraduate studies and later pursued graduate work connected to business and advertising in the Greater New York publishing community. Early mentorships included contacts at Magazine publishers such as executives from Time Inc., Condé Nast, and independent houses in Manhattan.
Simmons built a career at consumer magazines including positions tied to Esquire (magazine), Forbes, and representatives from Random House-associated editorial circles, working alongside editors and writers who later moved to satirical publications. In the early 1970s he became involved with the founders of National Lampoon, collaborating with personalities from Harper's Magazine alumni, staff who had contributed to The Harvard Lampoon, and writers connected to The New Yorker networks. As chair and publisher he coordinated editorial strategy with figures from Rolling Stone, Playboy, and Mad (magazine), overseeing the expansion of the brand into live performance, radio, and recorded audio projects distributed via RCA Records and independent labels. Simmons's tenure saw crossovers with contributors who later worked for Saturday Night Live and MTV.
Transitioning into film, Simmons co-founded production entities including Mayflower Productions and partnered with producers associated with Roger Corman-style independent filmmaking as well as studio executives from 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures. He executive-produced and financed films featuring talent from the Lampoon stable, coordinating with directors and actors who had credits on National Lampoon's Animal House, National Lampoon's Vacation, and related franchise installments. Simmons negotiated distribution deals with major companies such as Universal Pictures, Warner Bros., and Columbia Pictures, collaborating with agents from Creative Artists Agency and managers tied to United Talent Agency. His film slate included comedy features, television adaptations, and spin-offs that engaged producers from Lorimar Television and music supervisors connected to MCA Records.
Beyond publishing and film, Simmons invested in multimedia businesses, partnering with executives from Cablevision-adjacent firms, venture capitalists from Silicon Valley, and broadcasting figures linked to ABC and NBC. He served on boards of companies with ties to Sony Pictures Entertainment and participated in mergers involving firms similar to Viacom. Simmons negotiated licensing and merchandising agreements with retailers and distributors, collaborating with corporate counsel experienced with Federal Communications Commission regulations and copyright offices. In later decades he advised startup publishers and producers, consulted for streaming platforms connected to Netflix and Hulu, and maintained relationships with Hollywood financiers and executives from The Walt Disney Company.
Simmons married and had a family with ties to New York City social and cultural circles; family members pursued careers connected to media, law, and entertainment. He maintained residences in Manhattan and Los Angeles, engaged with philanthropic boards linked to museums and institutions such as contemporary art foundations and theater groups in New York and California. Simmons died in Los Angeles in late 2020, leaving an estate and archives managed by representatives who worked with legal advisors experienced in estates of media executives and archivists from major university special collections.
Category:American publishers (people) Category:American film producers Category:1926 births Category:2020 deaths