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Eric Ellenbogen
Eric Ellenbogen
Eric Ellenbogen
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Eric Ellenbogen (born March 9, 1957)[1] is an American entertainment executive known for co-founding DreamWorks Classics and being CEO of Marvel Enterprises from 1998 to 1999. He was CEO and vice chairman of WildBrain from 2019 to 2023.

Key Information

Education

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Ellenbogen graduated from Harvard University in 1978 and the UCLA Anderson School of Management in 1982.[2][3]

Career

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In 1987, Ellenbogen became head of Broadway Video. In 1996, he became president of Golden Books Family Entertainment.[4] Ellenbogen was CEO and president of Marvel Enterprises from November 1998 to July 1999.[5]

Together with John Engelman in May 2000, Ellenbogen launched Classic Media.[6] After the sale of Classic Media to Entertainment Rights in 2007, Ellenbogen left the company, along with Engelman. The two collaborated in January 2008 with GTCR to form Boomerang Media, LLC.[7] Boomerang Media purchased Entertainment Rights in 2009, bringing Classic Media back under his control.[8]

In 2012, DreamWorks Animation acquired Classic Media and renamed it DreamWorks Classics. At that time, he became the head of DreamWorks Animation's television division, DreamWorks International Television. Later in 2016, DreamWorks Animation and its assets, including DreamWorks Classics, was purchased by NBCUniversal. DreamWorks Classics, reverted to the Classic Media name, was restarted with Ellenbogen as co-president and co-head of DreamWorks International Television.[9]

In 2018, he joined the board of directors of Canadian animation company WildBrain. He was named WildBrain's CEO and board vice chairman in August 2019[10] and left the company in 2023.[11]

References

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Eric Ellenbogen

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''Eric Ellenbogen'' is an American entertainment executive known for his more than three decades of leadership in the media and entertainment industry, with a focus on children's and family content. He has held senior positions at several key companies, including serving as president and CEO of Marvel Enterprises from 1998 to 1999, co-founding Classic Media in 2000—which grew into one of the largest private owners of branded family entertainment before its acquisition by DreamWorks Animation in 2012—and later acting as co-head of DreamWorks Classics and DreamWorks International Television. From 2019 to 2023, he served as CEO and vice chair of DHX Media (rebranded as WildBrain), where he oversaw the expansion of major brands such as Peanuts, Teletubbies, and Strawberry Shortcake, while building the company's digital production and distribution capabilities. His earlier career included roles as president of Golden Books Family Entertainment and president of Broadway Video Entertainment, alongside board directorships at Golden Books and Marvel when both were public companies. As a producer and executive producer, Ellenbogen has contributed to numerous family-oriented films and series, including The Lone Ranger (2013) and Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014). Ellenbogen is a graduate of Harvard College and holds an MBA from UCLA. His career has emphasized building and monetizing intellectual property portfolios in animation, television, and branded entertainment.

Early life and education

Eric Ellenbogen was born on March 9, 1957, in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of Harvard College and holds an MBA from UCLA. Little additional public information is available about his early life or upbringing prior to his education completion.

Career

Broadway Video and Golden Books Family Entertainment

In 1987, Eric Ellenbogen relocated to New York and became President of Broadway Video Entertainment, the television and film production and distribution company founded by Lorne Michaels. In this role, he oversaw various production activities, including serving as executive in charge of production for the sketch comedy series The Kids in the Hall from 1988 to 1995, with credits on 47 episodes. In 1996, Ellenbogen was appointed President of Golden Books Family Entertainment, which was then the world's largest publisher of children's books and had expanded into family entertainment through television and video productions. He joined specifically as president of its entertainment group, a unit dedicated to television and video-based content. During his tenure, he led the division's efforts in developing media properties tied to the company's publishing catalog until his departure in 1998.

Marvel Enterprises

Eric Ellenbogen served as president and chief executive officer of Marvel Enterprises from November 1998 to July 1999. He had previously been named to the company's board of directors in October 1998 amid its post-bankruptcy restructuring as a public company. Ellenbogen succeeded Joseph Ahearn as CEO and Gerard Calabrese as president during this transitional period when Marvel was addressing ongoing financial challenges following its emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. His tenure included efforts to strengthen the company's financial position, such as completing a $250 million debt offering and securing an additional credit line in early 1999. Ellenbogen also represented Marvel in key industry announcements, including a February 1999 joint statement with Sony Pictures and Marvel chief creative officer Avi Arad regarding the sharing of Spider-Man film rights. Ellenbogen resigned in July 1999 to lead a media investment concern and was succeeded by F. Peter Cuneo as president and chief executive officer. His appointment followed his prior role as president of Golden Books Family Entertainment.

Classic Media

In May 2000, Eric Ellenbogen co-founded Classic Media with John Engelman, backed by private equity investment. The company focused on acquiring and managing a portfolio of classic children's and family entertainment intellectual property, growing it into a significant library of well-known brands through strategic deals and development. Ellenbogen served as Chairman and CEO until 2007, when he departed following the company's sale to UK-based Entertainment Rights plc. In January 2008, Ellenbogen formed Boomerang Media in partnership with private equity firm GTCR. In 2009, Boomerang Media acquired the assets of Entertainment Rights, regaining control of the Classic Media library and its associated intellectual property. This move allowed Ellenbogen to continue building on the foundation he had established at Classic Media.

DreamWorks Classics

In 2012, DreamWorks Animation acquired Classic Media, with the deal announced on July 23, 2012, for $155 million in cash. The acquired entity was renamed DreamWorks Classics, integrating its library of family entertainment properties into DreamWorks Animation's operations. Eric Ellenbogen, co-founder and former co-CEO of Classic Media, joined DreamWorks Animation as Co-Head of DreamWorks Classics and Co-Head of DreamWorks International Television. In this role, Ellenbogen was instrumental in DreamWorks Animation's entry into the television business and led its international television expansion efforts. He helped grow the company's animated television operations, leveraging both DreamWorks franchises and the Classic Media library to build global distribution and partnerships. Following NBCUniversal's acquisition of DreamWorks Animation in 2016, DreamWorks Classics reverted to the Classic Media name and was relaunched as a business unit within NBCUniversal. Ellenbogen became Co-President of Classic Media in this restructured division.

WildBrain

In late 2018, Eric Ellenbogen joined the board of directors of DHX Media, the Canadian entertainment company that would rebrand as WildBrain the following year. On August 29, 2019, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chair of the Board, effective immediately, with the announcement highlighting his more than 30 years of experience leading entertainment businesses focused on kids' and family content. Ellenbogen assumed leadership of a portfolio featuring high-profile brands such as Peanuts and Teletubbies, alongside the WildBrain YouTube network, recognized as one of the largest kids' channels on the platform with significant reach and engagement. Under his direction, WildBrain pursued a strategic transformation that included rebranding the company, implementing a unified 360-degree approach across its operations, strengthening creative excellence, and expanding its global presence in kids' and family entertainment. On May 9, 2023, WildBrain announced that Ellenbogen had stepped down as CEO and Vice Chair after several years of leadership. He was succeeded by Josh Scherba, who was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer, with company statements crediting Ellenbogen for reshaping the organization, setting it on a path of sustainable growth, and leaving it in a stronger position as a leading platform for monetizing kids' and family intellectual property.

Production work

Executive producer and production management credits

Eric Ellenbogen has accrued numerous executive producer credits on feature films and television projects, particularly in family-oriented and animated content. He served as executive producer on the animated features Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) and Postman Pat: The Movie (2014), the comedy Underdog (2007), and the family film Lassie (2005). He also executive produced the animated TV movie Casper's Scare School (2006). In television, Ellenbogen's executive producer roles include work on the animated series George of the Jungle (2007) and Casper's Scare School (2012), along with contributions to other programs in the genre. These production credits primarily stem from his executive positions at Classic Media and DreamWorks Classics. Earlier in his career, Ellenbogen worked in production management as executive in charge of production on the sketch comedy series The Kids in the Hall (1988–1995) and the animated special Frosty Returns (1993). He is also credited with additional crew work on the animated film Home (2015).

Personal life

Eric Ellenbogen is described as a Los Angeles native and grew up in the city. He married Dominic Ramos-Ruiz in an extravagant outdoor ceremony on their historic Abernathy House property in Palm Springs in 2018.
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