Matty Simmons
| Matty Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Occupation | Film producer, producer, writer |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Matty Simmons is an American film and television producer, former newspaper reporter for the New York World-Telegram and Sun, and former Executive Vice President of Diner's Club, the first credit card company. Simmons gained his greatest fame while serving as the chief executive officer of Twenty First Century Communications.
Founded in 1967 by Simmons and fellow Diner's Club refugee Len Mogel, Twenty First Century was created to publish a "counterculture" magazine called Cheetah. While Cheetah failed, the partners had more success in the 1970s with Weight Watchers magazine and National Lampoon magazine. Under Simmons' direction, National Lampoon's entire editorial staff was fired and replaced with his children (Michael Simmons and Andy Simmons), as well as Peter Kleinman and Larry Sloman. The magazine expanded into radio, theater, records and film.
Simmons's film credits include acting as the producer of National Lampoon's Animal House and the National Lampoon's Vacation film series.
He has written seven books. His most recent, Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Making of Animal House, was published by St. Martins Press in 2012.