In 2006, a Hollywood icon opened his sprawling Beverly Hills office to two Canadian guys who wanted to spend time with a legend.

There was no reason for him to agree to our phone interview request or to meet us later in Los Angeles, but he did and was a complete mensch. He was smart, funny, supportive, classy and warm, and we knew we were in the company of someone who’s lived out his dreams and changed Hollywood for the better.

We spent an hour with Bernie Brillstein, one of Hollywood’s greatest managers, pioneers and moguls, and were impressed by his charming style, quick one-liner jokes and insight.

On Aug. 7, Brillstein died of the complications of heart disease. Many Hollywood tributes have since followed for the man who helped give several Canadians, including Jewish performers, the opportunity to shine, among them Jim Henson, John Belushi, Lorne Michaels, Dan Akroyd and  Martin Short.

“Canadian talent is halfway between the U.S. and England. Canadian sense of humour is really off. It’s very different, and if you get it, you have a real good time,” Brillstein said.

“Marty Short is a great talent and family man. I watch him and I’m in awe.  He is so talented and nice. Lorne as well. They are my friends, and I happen to be in business with them,” Brillstein told us.

He grew up in Manhattan, playing ball, going to camp and school, and being introduced to show-business people through his uncle, the comedian Jack Pearl.  After college and the army, he worked at the talent agency William Morris. At 24, he read letters being sent from executive to executive, to learn the business.

“You know the show How To Succeed in Business?, I actually did that. I came in at 8 a.m., the bosses came in at 8:15. I opened my tie, walked around and bumped into them. They’d ask what I’m doing there so early. I’d say, ‘There’s so much to do,’” Brillstein said.

After nine years at William Morris, he worked for Management III until 1969, when he founded the Brillstein Company. Its first packaged television show was Hee Haw. The company’s other television credits include The Muppet Show and Saturday Night Live, and it was involved with the films Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers and Dragnet.

In 1991, Brillstein joined Brad Grey to form Brillstein-Grey Entertainment. Brillstein-Grey created the television series Just Shoot Me, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher and The Sopranos. The company also manages the actors Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, Nick Cage and Adam Sandler.

“We’re not dealing with widgets. We’re dealing in bodies, minds, and it’s very hard. You can’t do it well if you just do it for money.” Brillstein said.

He was also on the speakers’ circuit. “I speak at every agency mailroom and every college that they want me to go to. You’ve got to give back, that’s why I wrote the books. Where Did I Go Right?: You’re No One in Hollywood Unless Someone Wants You Dead; Little Stuff Matters Most; and It’s All Lies and That’s the Truth summarize what it means to succeed today using a true old Hollywood style,” he said.

Brillstein loved his work. “How can you be so lucky to be in this business? I mean honest to God, I’ve been in it 51 years, and I’ve had so much fun and met so many people. Where do you get the chance to live a life like this and enjoy coming to work each day – it’s fantastic,” he said.

“When The Muppets exploded and Jim Henson became a worldwide genius and I knew I had something to do with it – you can’t get that feeling from anything except a fantastic love affair that lasts a whole life. The good news is my obituary has already been written, and I don’t have to bother. They’ll say things I never did but that’s fine,” Brillstein said.