Frank Biondi facts for kids

Frank Joseph Biondi Jr. (born January 9, 1945 – died November 25, 2019) was an important American businessman. He was a top leader in the entertainment world. He helped run big companies like Viacom, Universal Pictures, and HBO.

Early Life and School

Frank Biondi was born in New York City. He grew up in Livingston, New Jersey. His father was also a business leader at Bell Telephone Company.

Frank went to Livingston High School. He graduated in 1964. Later, he was even added to the school's hall of fame! He then went to Princeton University and earned a degree in psychology in 1966. After that, he studied at Harvard Business School and got his M.B.A. degree.

His Career in Entertainment

Frank Biondi started his career in 1968. He worked as a financial expert on Wall Street. He then got a job at TelePrompTer Corporation. This was a very large cable TV company at the time. However, the company faced some financial problems. Because of this, Frank lost his job there.

In 1974, Frank found a new job. He joined the Children’s Television Workshop (CTW). This non-profit group created famous shows like Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Frank enjoyed working in this "nice, safe" environment.

Leading HBO

In 1978, Frank Biondi moved to HBO. He started by helping to create new shows. By 1983, he became the president and CEO of HBO. This meant he was in charge of the whole company.

Working with Coca-Cola

In 1985, Frank worked for Coca-Cola. He helped manage their entertainment businesses. Coca-Cola brought together its TV companies. Frank became the CEO of this new group, called Coca-Cola Television. Later, this part of Coca-Cola was sold to another company called TriStar Pictures.

Running Viacom and Universal

Frank Biondi became the president and CEO of Viacom in 1987. He led this major media company until 1996. After Viacom, he became the chairman and CEO of Universal Pictures from 1996 to 1998.

Later Ventures

In 1999, Frank helped start a new company. It was called WaterView Advisors. This company focused on investing in media and technology.

Frank also loved tennis. He helped start the Tennis Channel in 2001. He worked with other former Viacom leaders on this project. They were sometimes called the "Viacom mafia" because they worked together on new projects. He also served on the board for the Vineyard Family Tennis Foundation.

Later in his life, Frank Biondi was a director for several other companies. These included RealD, Amgen, Cablevision, and Yahoo!.

Personal Life

Frank Biondi met Carol Oughton when they worked together. They got married in 1974. They had two daughters, Anne and Jane. His son-in-law, Robert Simonds, is a film producer.

Frank Biondi passed away on November 25, 2019. He was 74 years old. He died from bladder cancer at his home in Los Angeles.