Matty Simmons, a remarkable individual, was born in Brooklyn, where he initially pursued his passion for basketball, playing at both the high school and college levels. However, his trajectory took an unexpected turn when, at the tender age of seventeen, he became a newspaper reporter for the esteemed "New York World Telegram and Sun". After a brief stint in the army, Simmons transitioned to the world of press agency, establishing his own firm and representing an array of show business clients, as well as commercial accounts, such as the iconic Heineken Beer.
As one of the three founders of "The Diners Club", the pioneering all-purpose credit card company, Simmons served as Executive Vice President, primarily overseeing marketing and publishing operations, including the founding of "Signature Magazine" shortly after the company's inception. In the late 1960s, he resigned from the company to form 21st Century Communications, which would later evolve into National Lampoon, Inc.
Under Simmons' leadership, the company went public in 1972, with him serving as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The company's first magazine was "Weight Watchers Magazine", launched in 1968, followed by the introduction of "National Lampoon" in 1970, which would go on to become the most popular humor magazine in publishing history.
In addition to his magazine ventures, Simmons also produced the musical comedy "Lemmings", which showcased the talents of John Belushi, Chevy Chase, and Christopher Guest, among others. Over the years, he produced three other Lampoon stage shows, including "The National Lampoon Show", "That's Not Funny, That's Sick", and "The Class of '86".
Simmons' impressive portfolio also includes the production of the "National Lampoon Radio Hour", which emerged as the most popular radio show in America in 1973 and 1974, as well as 12 comedy albums. His film credits include the groundbreaking "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978),widely regarded as the most popular movie comedy of all time, and the "National Lampoon 'Vacation' series, which became the most popular family movie series (box office) of all time.
Throughout his illustrious career, Simmons has received numerous accolades, including being named "Producer of the Year" in 1979 and "Publisher of the Year" in 1980 by industry organizations. His film and television discoveries include Michelle Pfeiffer, Tom Hulce, and Kevin Bacon, among others. Simmons' most recent books, "If You Don't Buy This Book, We'll Kill This Dog" and "The Credit Card Catastrophe", were published in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
In March 1989, Simmons sold his controlling interest in National Lampoon, Inc., and currently resides in Los Angeles, where he continues to write and produce movies and television.
