Gary Garfinkel

Gary Garfinkel was an American television executive, and co-head of content acquisitions for Showtime Networks, Inc.

Garfinkel first joined Showtime in 1993. Along with Kent Sevener, Garfinkel was responsible for the evaluation, negotiation and acquisition of feature films, documentaries, stand-up comedy, specials and music programs for all of Showtime Networks’ services. Garfinkel was integrally involved with programming, business development, digital media and specialized programing for on-air destinations that highlight documentaries, science fiction and horror. He dramatically increased stand-up comedy on the network, expanding the portfolio to 39 comedy specials in 2012, under the “Laugh Out Loud” banner.

Prior to joining Showtime, Garfinkel worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment as an International Business Analyst and in New York at Salomon Brothers Inc. as a Foreign Exchange Analyst, while also attending New York University Stern School of Business.

Garfinkel died May 25, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. He was 55.