George Kaufman

George Kaufman was an American real estate developer who was chairman of Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York City.

Built in 1920, Kaufman Astoria Studios was the original home of Paramount Pictures. After the filmmaking community relocated to Hollywood, the U.S. Army began production there in the 1940s. It was declared "surplus property" in the 1970s and turned over to the federal government.

In 1982, Kaufman acquired Astoria Studios, renovating and expanding it into a full-service, comprehensive studio, triggering a revitalization of film and television production in the city.

Kaufman Astoria Studios opened a backlot — the only outdoor stage facility in New York City — in 2013 and currently offers more than 500,000 square feet of soundstages, production office and service space. It has served as the home of Sesame Street since 1992 and has also hosted productions including Nurse Jackie, Boardwalk Empire, Orange Is the New Black, and The Path.

Kaufman died February 20, 2018. He was 89.