Charles S. Cohen

Charles S. Cohen
Born (1952-02-08) February 8, 1952
Residence Manhattan, New York
Nationality American/Jewish
Education B.A. Tufts University
J.D. Brooklyn Law School
Occupation real estate developer
film producer
Known for President and CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation
Net worth US$6.65 billion (04 October 2016)[1]
Spouse(s) Clo Jacobs
Children 3
Parent(s) Gloria Cohen
Sherman Cohen

Charles S. Cohen (born February 8, 1952)[2] is an American real estate developer and film producer.

Early life and education

Cohen was raised in a Jewish family[3] in Harrison, New York,[2] the son of Gloria and Sherman Cohen.[4] His father was founder of Cohen Brothers Realty & Construction Corporation[4] which he founded with his two brothers in the 1950s. At the age of 16, he made his first short film winning an honorable mention at the Kodak Teenage Movie Awards competition.[3] Cohen attended New York University for a year and a half before transferring to Tufts where he majored in English.[3] In 1974, Cohen graduated from Tufts University and in 1977, he graduated from Brooklyn Law School.[5]

Career

Charles S. Cohen is an American real estate developer, film distributor and producer, and patron of the arts. He is the owner, president and CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation, a private commercial real estate development and management firm with a portfolio of Class A commercial office buildings and design centers in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, and South Florida. He also is the chairman and CEO of Cohen Media Group, which he formed in 2008 to produce and distribute independent and arthouse films throughout North America.

FILM PRODUCTION + DISTRIBUTION: Charles S. Cohen formed Cohen Media Group in 2008 to produce and distribute independent and arthouse films throughout North America. Cohen Media Group is today the largest American distributor of French films in the United States, while its specialty home entertainment label, the Cohen Film Collection, releases restored and remastered editions of classic Hollywood and foreign films on Digital platforms, Blu-ray and DVD. Cohen Media Group has distributed over 113 feature films and 10 shorts. Coming off the back of its success at the 2017 Academy Awards® with Best Foreign Language Film winner The Salesman, Cohen Media Group scored two nominations at this year’s ceremony, marking CMG’s 8th Oscar nomination since the company was formed 10 years ago. A token of Cohen’s dedication to world cinema, Lebanese drama The Insult was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, while Faces Places, from iconic French director Agnès Varda and artist JR, was nominated for Best Documentary Feature. The Company has also acquired the rights to over 800 films, including cinema landmarks from Douglas Fairbanks and Buster Keaton. Charles Cohen recently acquired Merchant Ivory Productions, best known for Howards End and Maurice. Additionally, Cohen Media Group has several feature film and television productions currently in the works.

FILM EXHIBITION: In 2017, Charles S. Cohen spectacularly renovated and reopened one of New York City’s most revered movie houses, the historic Quad Cinema in the heart of Greenwich Village, New York City. He also in the process of redeveloping the historic Larchmont Playhouse in Westchester County into an arthouse/independent film multiplex and is in the planning stage of redeveloping an arthouse/independent film multiplex in West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2017, Cohen’s acquisition of the iconic Paris cinema La Pagode, an integral part of French cultural history, which dates back to 1896, adds to his growing catalog of arthouse cinemas. Mr. Cohen is currently working with the French government on the plans of the restoration of this Parisian landmark.

REAL ESTATE: Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation is a private commercial real estate development and management firm with a portfolio of 12 million square feet of Class A office buildings and showrooms of over 300 high end luxury companies across the United States. Signature projects include the revitalization of Manhattan’s renowned Decoration & Design (D&D) Building, the Southern California’s Pacific Design Center and the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) in South Florida, the largest design center in the United States.

HOTEL OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: Le Meridien in Fort Lauderdale becomes the first venture into the hospitality arena. Mr. Cohen is currently in the midst of a major redevelopment of the hotel, which is located on the DCOTA (Design Centers of America) campus.

FASHION: Two top UK fashion labels, Savile Row tailor Richard James and luxury shoe manufacturer and retailer Harrys of London, were acquired in 2016 and 2017. Cohen has a majority stake and serves as Chairman at Richard James, which recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary. Cohen serves as Chairman and has a 100% interest in UK-based Harrys of London. Cohen will facilitate the brands’ international growth strategies, beginning with Manhattan store openings for both this spring.

WINE PRODUCTION: Château de Chausse, a 30-year-old Award-winning, 135-acre vineyard in Provence near St Tropez was acquired in 2017. Plans include restoring the stunning Château itself and surrounding gardens, as well as a major expansion of the wine making facility. The vineyard will be fully organic.

Other Work

From 1991 to 1993 he was a chairman at the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. Cohen serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the Lighthouse International Theater, the Public Theater, Real Estate Board of New York, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the Film Society of Lincoln Center.[5]

Awards

In 2002, Cohen was awarded the Israel Peace Medal and was honored by the B'nai B'rith International. In 2008, he produced the film Frozen River, which received two Academy Award nominations. Twice, he has been honored by the Republic of France: In 2014, he received the Ordre National Du Mérite (National Order of Merit) from the French President for his efforts in promoting French cinema and art, and in 2015, he received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters).

Personal life

Cohen has been married twice.[2] He is divorced from his first wife; they have two children, a daughter who teaches kindergarten and a son who works in real-estate finance.[3] In 2004, he married his second wife, Clodagh "Clo" Margaret Jacobs,[4] a former marketing and publicity executive for fashion designer Jimmy Choo,[3] in a Jewish ceremony at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan;[4] they have two children.[3] The couple divides their time between homes in Manhattan and in suburban Connecticut.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Charles S. Cohen". Forbes. 4 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 The Real Deal: "Charles Cohen" By Candace Taylor] retrieved February 8, 2014
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jewish Journal: "New York real estate magnate Charles Cohen builds a movie studio" by Danielle Berrin February 20, 2015
  4. 1 2 3 4 New York Times: "Clo Jacobs, Charles Cohen October 31, 2004
  5. 1 2 "The Film-Makers'/ New American Cinema Group Honors Charles S. Cohen". Retrieved September 28, 2013.
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