Herbert Schlosser

Herbert Samuel Schlosser

(1926-04-21)April 21, 1926
Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.

August 6, 2021(2021-08-06) (aged 95)

Manhattan, New York, U.S.

American

Princeton University

Television executive

Saturday Night Live
co-founder of A&E

Judith Gassner

2, including Eric

Early life[edit]

Schlosser was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on April 21, 1926. His father, Abraham, ran his own furniture store; his mother, Anna (Olesker), was a housewife. He graduated from Atlantic City High School.[2] He served in the US Navy and was stationed in the contiguous United States. He then studied public and international affairs at Princeton University. After graduating in 1949, he went to Yale Law School and obtained a Juris Doctor in 1951.[3]

Later career[edit]

Schlosser became an executive vice president at RCA, NBC's parent,[17] in 1978. During his tenure, he co-founded the television network A&E.[18] Schlosser later went to Wertheim & Co. as senior adviser in 1985. That year, he also became chairman of the Museum of the Moving Image, which was inaugurated three years later. He continued serving in that capacity until 2013.[3]

Personal life[edit]

Schlosser was married to Judith Gassner until his death. Together, they had two children, Eric, an author, and Lynn, who followed her father and became a television executive.[3]


Schlosser died on August 6, 2021, at his home in Manhattan. He was 95 years old.[3]