Key Facts
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Harry M. “Skip” Brittenham |
| Date of Birth | September 6, 1941 |
| Place of Birth | Port Huron, Michigan |
| Occupation | Entertainment lawyer; film production collaborator |
| Education | B.S., United States Air Force Academy; J.D., UCLA |
| Military Service | Captain, United States Air Force (1963–1967) |
| Law Firm | Partner, Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca & Fischer (est. 1979) |
| Spouse(s) | Patricia Anne Williams (first); Heather Thomas (second, m. 1992) |
| Children | Kristina, Shauna (first marriage); India Rose (with Heather Thomas) |
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately $2 million (primarily attributed to Heather Thomas’s acting career) |
Early Life and Education
Harry M. Brittenham was born in Port Huron, Michigan, on September 6, 1941, to a military family that moved often. His Air Force pilot father moved the family to New York, Mississippi, Michigan, Alaska, and California, teaching flexibility. He received a Bachelor of Science at the US Air Force Academy before serving four years as a Captain and pursuing a Juris Doctor at UCLA.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Upbringing | Frequent relocations across New York, Mississippi, Michigan, Alaska, and California due to father’s Air Force assignments. |
| Father | Harry M. Brittenham Sr., Air Force pilot; described as disciplined but distant due to military commitments. |
| Mother | Worked as a social caseworker and housekeeper, providing stability amidst frequent moves. |
| Siblings | One younger brother; family dynamics shaped by father’s deployment and mother’s dual roles. |
| Undergraduate Degree | Bachelor of Science, United States Air Force Academy; graduated with military commission. |
| Legal Education | Juris Doctor, UCLA School of Law; served as Articles Editor on the UCLA Law Review (1969–1970). |
| Military Service | Commissioned as Captain in the USAF (1963–1967), demonstrating leadership and discipline before shifting to a legal career. |
Legal and Production Career
Brittenham joined the expanding subject of entertainment law after graduating from law school in 1971. He negotiated lucrative contracts for major studios, networks, and artists as a partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca & Fischer. He also produced genre films in the 1970s, combining legal skills with filmmaking.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Bar Admission | California State Bar, 1971 |
| Law Review Role | Articles Editor, UCLA Law Review (1969–1970) |
| Law Firm | Partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca & Fischer; firm founded 1979; represents high-profile film, TV, and music clients. |
| Key Clients | Major studios, top-tier talent in motion pictures, television networks, recording artists, and multimedia ventures. |
| Film Production | Additional crew on God Told Me To (1976), Bone (1972), Hell Up in Harlem (1973), showcasing cross-disciplinary expertise. |
| Industry Impact | Pioneered complex talent agreements and co-production deals that set precedents in Hollywood’s legal practice. |
Professional Highlights
Brittenham’s professional highlights include early law school editorial leadership and swift California legal advancement. A boutique entertainment firm he founded became national. His combined job as counsel and film collaborator combines legal expertise and creativity.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Appointed Articles Editor, UCLA Law Review, signaling academic excellence and editorial leadership. |
| 1971 | Admitted to California Bar; commenced practice in entertainment law. |
| 1979 | Co-founded Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca & Fischer; the firm became a leading West Coast entertainment law practice. |
| 1972–1976 | Served as additional crew member on several feature films, blending legal insight with production work. |
| 1980s | Negotiated groundbreaking agreements for syndication and international distribution of TV programming. |
| 1990s–2000s | Continued to expand firm’s roster, advised on emerging multimedia and digital rights deals. |
Family and Personal Life
Harry Brittenham has founded a huge blended family on privacy and professional success through two marriages. First marriage to Patricia Anne Williams produced two daughters; second marriage to actress Heather Thomas added a third child and fame. The family balances high-profile law and entertainment business activities.
| Relation | Name | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Wife | Patricia Anne Williams | Marriage produced daughters Kristina and Shauna; details remain private. |
| Second Wife | Heather Thomas | Married October 10, 1992; known for The Fall Guy (1981–1986); retired from acting 1998. |
| Daughter | Kristina Brittenham | Eldest child from first marriage; maintains private life. |
| Daughter | Shauna Brittenham | Second child from first marriage; limited public profile. |
| Daughter | India Rose Brittenham | Born June 19, 2000; shares parents’ interests in creative and legal fields. |
| Extended Family | Brothers Bud Brittenham and Mike Thompson; father passed 2005. | Family ties include two brothers and late father, whose obituary confirmed relationships. |
Net Worth
The details of Brittenham’s personal wealth are unknown, although his legal profession and cinematic projects support it. Heather Thomas’s career earnings add �$2 million to the family estate. Although Brittenham’s holdings may exceed headline amounts, industry insiders estimate the family net worth at roughly ~$2 million.
| Individual | Estimated Net Worth | Source of Wealth |
|---|---|---|
| Heather Thomas | $2 million | Acting (notably The Fall Guy), writing, and activism. |
| Harry M. Brittenham | Undisclosed (industry estimates suggest significant legal fees and equity in firm). | Entertainment law practice; partner in prominent law firm. |
| Combined Family | ~$2 million (conservative estimate) | Primary value driven by Thomas’s public earnings; Brittenham’s contributions likely increase total. |
FAQ
Who is Harry M. Brittenham?
The 1970s genre film collaborator Harry M. Brittenham was an American entertainment lawyer and film production collaborator with Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca & Fischer.
His key career accomplishments?
He co–founded a leading Los Angeles entertainment law firm, edited the UCLA Law Review, and worked on films such as God Told Me To (1976) in additional crew roles.
Who’s his wife and kids?
He has two children, Kristina and Shauna, from Patricia Anne Williams and India Rose from Heather Thomas, whom he married in 1992.
What is the family’s net worth?
Heather Thomas has a personal worth of $2 million, and her family’s combined net worth is estimated at $2 million, due to her acting and legal accomplishments.
