Bill Gross, 50, TV and licensing exec

TV vet was co-founder, CEO of Brandissimo!

By VARIETY STAFF

Bill Gross, a longtime childrens' TV and licensing exec, died Oct. 21 in Los Angeles. He was 50.

Gross was co-founder and CEO of Brandissimo!, a family entertainment content and branding company. He was responsible for developing animated series including "Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs," "Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks" and "Flockhearts."

He also created Spectrum Connection's "Bounce," a series of DVDs created for children with autism, which recently premiered on PBS Sprout.

Gross started his entertainment career by purchasing a talent agency, and moved on to become a VP at William Morris. He then owned an artists' management company, and specialized in representing comedians.

In the mid-90s, he joined the Walt Disney Company as a senior production executive, overseeing production, marketing and distribution for shows including "Doug," "PB&J Otter" and "Stanley."

He also worked in the videogame industry, and in 2002 founded the entertainment licensing division of Take-Two Interactive, where he oversaw the production and marketing of games including "DaVinci Code," "24" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Gross was a senior exec at Gullane Ent., managing brands including "Thomas the Tank Engine." He was also the CEO of an online entertainment company and advisor to a mobile games company.

He is survived by his wife Felice, a daughter, his parents, and two sisters.

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