Cerf, Bennett (Alfred)

(born May 25, 1898, New York, N.Y., U.S.—died Aug. 27, 1971, Mount Kisco, N.Y.) U.S. publisher and editor. With Donald S. Klopfer, in 1925 Cerf acquired the Modern Library imprint, which subsequently became a highly profitable series of reprints of classic books. In 1927 they began publishing books other than Modern Library titles as Random House, of which Cerf served as president (1927–65) and chairman (1965–70). He became known as an opponent of censorship and as the publisher of many eminent authors. An inveterate punster and raconteur, he edited anthologies of humour, short stories, and plays, wrote syndicated newspaper columns, and appeared on the popular television show “What's My Line?” (1952–68).

Cerf, Bennett (Alfred) (1898–1971) publisher, editor, writer; born in New York City. After successfully marketing reprint classics under the Modern Library imprint, he cofounded Random House in 1927, serving as its president for nearly 40 years. An editor of humor and other anthologies, he also wrote a syndicated newspaper column and appeared regularly on television.