Biography
Gary R. Benz - President, Chief Executive Officer
An entrepreneur who helped set the standard for documentary and unscripted television programming, Gary R. Benz was one of the first American producers to envision the worldwide appeal of this emerging genre. In 1986, he established GRB Entertainment as a world-class television producer and international distributor, which now reaches more than 160 territories around the globe. Mr. Benz has created and produced more than 3,000 hours of broadcast, cable and syndicated programming, including live events, specials and numerous critically-acclaimed and award-winning series.
As Executive Producer, Mr. Benz has overseen such successful programs as A&E's Intervention (230 episodes), the 2009 Emmy® Award winner for Outstanding Reality Program, and has been the recipient of multiple PRISM, CINE, Telly and BANFF Film awards.
Mr. Benz's other credits include Showdown of the Unbeatables (National Geographic), Next Action Star, 10 unscripted hours and a two-hour movie with Silver Pictures Television (NBC), Princes of Malibu (Fox), Aftermath with William Shatner (Bio), Alter-Eco with Adrian Grenier (Planet Green); Cannonball Run (USA), True Caribbean Pirates (History), and the long-running series, Untold Stories of The ER (TLC).
Since forming Los Angeles-based GRB Entertainment, Mr. Benz has created international co-productions with strategic partnerships worldwide. These global productions include the 200-episode primetime series, Echt Wahr (Germany's Sat 1); Now See This! (France's TF1 and Discovery Channel); Stuntmasters (Canal +, Alliance Atlantis, and U.S. syndication); and AXN: Action TV (Columbia Tri-Star, the Fox Family Channel, and Sony's AXN networks around the world).
A testament to GRB's stature in the financial community is the partners that have chosen to invest in the company. Allen & Co., the prestigious New York based investment bank with a long and storied history in the entertainment industry, is GRB's second largest shareholder having been an investor for over 15 years.
Mr. Benz is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, The Caucus for Television Producers, Writers & Directors Foundation, and the Board of Directors for the Entertainment Industries Council, Inc.
