{{Short description|Franco-American nightclub owner}} {{Use British English|date=August 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Victor Drai | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|7|25}} | birth_place = Casablanca, Morocco | occupation = {{hlist|Nightclub owner|entrepreneur|film producer}} | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Kelly LeBrock|1984|1986|end=divorced}} * {{marriage|Loryn Locklin|1990|1998|end=divorced}} * {{marriage|Yolanda Krupiarz<br>|2016}} }} | partner = Jacqueline Bisset (1973–1980) | children = 4 | website = {{URL|https://draisgroup.com}} }}

'''Victor Drai''' (born July 25, 1947) is a Franco-American<ref name="timesdrai's">{{cite news|last1=Welkos|first1=Robert|title=Drai's Restaurant: Parlez-Vous le Show Biz? : Industry: Hollywood powerbrokers flock to Victor Drai's West Hollywood restaurant. But is it for the former producer's Southern France-style food?|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-07-07-ca-13020-story.html|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 7, 1994}}</ref><ref name=HuffReview>{{cite news|last1=Weston|first1=Jay|title=Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-weston/rare-by-drais-opens-on-su_b_4450695.html|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=The Huffington Post|publisher=Rare by Drai's Opens on Sunset Plaza Drive|date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> nightclub owner, entrepreneur and film producer.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Norm|title=NORM Q&A: Nightclub mogul Victor Drai sets sights on new Strip venture|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/norm-clarke/norm-qa-nightclub-mogul-victor-drai-sets-sights-new-strip-venture|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> Drai rose to prominence in the 1980s, producing the movies ''The Woman in Red'' (1984) and ''Weekend at Bernie's'' (1989), before leaving the industry to open a string of high-profile restaurants and nightclubs.<ref name="VEGAS Profile">{{cite news|last1=Kaplan|first1=Michael|title=Vegas' After-Hours King Makes a Comeback|url=http://vegasmagazine.com/personalities/articles/the-return-of-victor-drai|access-date=October 23, 2014|work=VEGAS Magazine|publisher=Niche Media LLC|date=February 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Odell|first=Kat|title=Drai's Restaurant at W Hollywood Shutters, Will Relocate|date=July 2013|url=http://la.eater.com/archives/2013/07/01/drais_restaurant_at_w_hollywood_shutters_will_relocate.php|publisher=Eater LA|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=SunCromwellProfile>{{cite news|last1=Leach|first1=Robin|title=Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/mar/05/photos-victor-drais-cromwell-will-be-most-beautifu/|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=Las Vegas Sun|date=March 5, 2014|archive-date=April 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425024825/http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/mar/05/photos-victor-drais-cromwell-will-be-most-beautifu/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life== Drai was born in Casablanca, Morocco, to Jewish parents. He dropped out of school at 14 to move to Paris, France, with his family. In 1968, he launched a ready-to-wear line called Vicadam, which featured velvet jeans.<ref name=PeopleBisset>{{cite news|last1=Windeler|first1=Robert|title=Out of the Shadows|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20068435,00.html|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=People Magazine|issue=5|date=August 1, 1977|volume=8}}</ref>

In 1974, Drai met Jacqueline Bisset on a flight from Los Angeles to Paris and the two began a transatlantic relationship.<ref name=freelib>{{cite news|last1=Lipson|first1=Larry|title=Drai's Turns Hollywood Clout Into Meaty Success|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DRAI'S+TURNS+HOLLYWOOD+CLOUT+INTO+MEATY+SUCCESS.-a083902940|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=The Daily News|issue=1996|publisher=The Free Library}}</ref> Drai sold the fashion line and relocated to the United States to be with Bisset and began a new business flipping Beverly Hills mansions.<ref name=PeopleBisset />

==Film production== In 1982, Drai and then-girlfriend Kelly LeBrock traveled to Paris where they saw the movie ''Pardon Mon Affaire''. With the help of David Begelman, Drai produced a remake titled ''The Woman in Red'' which was released in 1984.<ref name=VarietyBegelman>{{cite news|last1=Archerd|first1=Army|title=Begelman's suicide shocks, saddens friends|url=https://variety.com/1995/voices/columns/begelman-s-suicide-shocks-saddens-friends-1117862751/|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=Variety|date=August 9, 1995}}</ref> Based on that movie's success, Drai then produced a series of comedies including another French remake, ''The Man with One Red Shoe'' (1985), and ''Weekend at Bernie's'' (1989).<ref name="VEGAS Profile" /><ref name=IMDb>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0236819/|title=Victor Drai|website=IMDb|access-date=October 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=CSMHanks>{{cite news|last1=Sweeney|first1=Louise|title=Film star Tom Hanks: having fun making movies filled with mirth|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1984/0917/091714.html|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=The Christian Science Monitor|date=September 17, 1984}}</ref>

In 1985, Victor Drai Productions had set up a two-year, non-exclusive pact with MGM/UA Entertainment Co., whereas the first of the film projects were set up for the start of the fall of 1985, and represent the directorial debut of actor Henry Winkler.<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 19, 1985|title=Drai Prods. Enter Two-Year Feature Pact with MGM/UA|page=3|work=Variety}}</ref>

==Restaurants and nightclubs== In 1993, Drai made the decision to open a restaurant, which he felt would be a more family-friendly career.<ref name="VEGAS Profile" /> He contracted French chef Claude Segal, who'd replaced Wolfgang Puck at the upscale restaurant Ma Maison in 1985.<ref name=SegalObit>{{cite news|last1=Parsons|first1=Russ|title=Longtime chef Claude Segal dies|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2011/11/longtime-chef-claude-segal-dies.html|access-date=October 24, 2014|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 4, 2011}}</ref> With Segal, he opened the restaurant Drai's at 730 La Cienega Boulevard on Restaurant Row in Los Angeles.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

In 1995, Drai opened a second Drai's in Las Vegas. A couple years later, he started an afterhours club, "That started everything", Drai stated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Victor Drai, Nightlife Impresario Behind Vegas Clubs Tryst, XS, Bringing New Concept to BLT Space|date=August 19, 2013|url=http://www.wehoville.com/2013/08/19/victor-drai-nightlife-impresario-behind-vegas-clubs-tryst-xs-bringing-new-concept-to-blt-space/|publisher=Wehoville.com|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> In December 2013, he opened a steakhouse on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles called Rare by Drai's.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chiao|first=Christine|title=Rare by Drai's, a New Steakhouse in West Hollywood, Now Open|url=http://www.laweekly.com/squidink/2013/12/17/rare-by-drais-a-new-steakhouse-in-west-hollywood-now-open|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

In March 2010, he opened Drai's Hollywood, a rooftop restaurant, pool and nightclub at the W Hotel in Hollywood.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vegas Debauchery on a Hollywood Rooftop|date=March 8, 2010 |url=http://www.urbandaddy.com/la/nightlife/9240/Drai_s_Hollywood_Vegas_Debauchery_on_a_Hollywood_Rooftop_Los_Angeles_LA_east_of_Vine_Nightclub |publisher=UrbanDaddy.com|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref>

In 1997, Drai opened Drai's restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip.<ref>{{cite web|title=Drai's (Restaurant)|url=http://vegas.napkinnights.com/vd/drais_restaurant|publisher=Vegas.Napkinnights.com|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> Two years later, Drai added a nightclub to the restaurant, re-branding it Drai's After Hours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/afterhours/|title=Drai's After Hours - The Best After Hours Club in Las Vegas|website=Drai's After Hours - The Best Las Vegas After Hours}}</ref> In Vegas Seven's 2012 Nightclub Awards, Drai's After Hours won "Best Place to Disappear".<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Place to Disappear: Drai's After hours|url=http://vegasseven.com/2012/12/20/best-place-disappear-drai-s-after-hours/|publisher=Vegas Seven|access-date=April 29, 2014}}</ref> He currently operates Drai's After Hours nightclub at The Cromwell Las Vegas.<ref>[http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/aug/27/wynn-las-vegas-victor-drai-end-partnership/ Wynn Las Vegas, Victor Drai end partnership] Amanda Finnegan August 27, 2010. ''Las Vegas Weekly''.</ref>

In 2007, Drai took over La Bete at Wynn Las Vegas and re-branded it Tryst.<ref>{{cite web|last=Elyzabeth|first=Michele|title=Victor Drai: He Did It His Way|url=http://www.latfthemagazine.com/magazine/041/victordrai2.html|publisher=LATF The Magazine|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> In 2012, Vegas Seven's Nightclub Awards awarded Tryst "Best Place to Impress".<ref>{{cite web|title=2012 Nighclub Awards|url=http://vegasseven.com/2012/12/20/best-place-impress-tryst/|publisher=Vegas Seven|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> In 2013, Tryst placed #8 in the Top 100 Nightclub & Bar Roster for ''Nightclub & Bar Magazine''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Presenting the 2013 Top 100 NCB Top 10 Profiles|url=http://www.nightclub.com/awards/top-100/presenting-2013-top-100-ncb-top-10-profiles|publisher=Nightclub & Bar Magazine|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

Drai opened XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Leach|first=Robin|title=Photos: Victor Drai's at Cromwell will be 'the most beautiful nightclub you have ever seen'|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/mar/05/photos-victor-drais-cromwell-will-be-most-beautifu/|work=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=April 24, 2014|archive-date=April 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425024825/http://www.lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2014/mar/05/photos-victor-drais-cromwell-will-be-most-beautifu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2010, XS won Nightclub & Bar Awards for "New Club of the Year" and "Mega-Club of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Woodman|first=Xania|title=XS Takes Home Two Nightclub & Bar Awards|date=3 February 2010|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/nightlife/2010/feb/03/xs-takes-home-two-nightclub-bar-awards/|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> " In 2013, Nightclub & Bar Magazine awarded XS the "Mega-Club of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 Nightclub & Bar Award Winners Announced|url=http://www.nightclub.com/awards/news/2013-nightclub-bar-award-winners-announced-6603|publisher=Nightclub & Bar Magazine|access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref> " Technomic named XS number one nightclub in the US for 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clarke|first=Norm|title=Wynn Las Vegas club named No. 1|date=February 7, 2010|url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/norm-clarke/wynn-las-vegas-club-named-no-1|publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> In 2010, Drai was bought out of his managing partnership at Steve Wynn's Tryst and XS to pursue other endeavors.<ref>{{cite web|last=Odell|first=Kat|title=Victor Drai and Steve Wynn Part Ways: Waits Brothers at Helm of Wynn's Nightlife Empire|date=August 27, 2010|url=http://la.eater.com/archives/2010/08/27/victor_drai_and_steve_wynn_part_ways_waits_brothers_at_helm_of_wynns_nightlife_empire.php|publisher=Eater LA|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref>

On March 2, 2017, he opened Drai's Vancouver which was located inside Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holborn.ca/portfolio-item/drais-vancouver-the-citys-newest-ultra-lounge-will-make-its-grand-entrance-into-vancouvers-nightlife-scene-feb-28-2017/|title=Drai's Vancouver, the city's newest ultra lounge, will make its grand entrance into Vancouver's nightlife scene &#124; Mar 2, 2017|date=March 6, 2017}}</ref> The club closed down in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://604now.com/drais-vancouver-nightclub-closes/|title=Vegas Goodbye, Drai's Vancouver Nightclub Shuts Down Unexpectedly|date=September 5, 2018|website=604 Now}}</ref>

He opened Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/|title=Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub &#124; The Best Club in Las Vegas|website=Drai's - The Best Las Vegas Nightclub}}</ref> on Memorial Day weekend 2014, at The Cromwell Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite web|last=Medved|first=Matt|title=Drai's Beach Club & Night Club Las Vegas Announces Eric Prydz and More as First Residents: Exclusive|date=April 10, 2014|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/drais-beach-club-night-club-las-vegas-announces-eric-prydz-and-more-as-6049068/|publisher=Billboard.com|access-date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> This 65,000-square-foot venue has a party pool and an indoor/outdoor club spread out over two levels on top of the new Cromwell Hotel.<ref>{{cite web|last=Feldberg|first=Sarah|title=Drai's Beach Club and Nightclub Will Be More Than a 'Music Venue for Million-Dollar DJs'|date=February 18, 2014|url=http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/nightlife/2014/feb/18/drais-beach-club-and-nightclub-will-be-more-music-/|publisher=Las Vegas Weekly|access-date=April 28, 2014|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211033307/https://lasvegasweekly.com/nightlife/2014/feb/18/drais-beach-club-and-nightclub-will-be-more-music-/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Drai also opened a beach club and a nightclub in Dubai and plans to expand his empire to other cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimdobson/2019/02/16/vegas-nightlife-king-victor-drai-and-son-dustin-take-the-iconic-club-brand-worldwide/|title=Vegas Nightlife King Victor Drai And Son Dustin Take The Drai's Club Brand Worldwide|first=Jim|last=Dobson|website=Forbes}}</ref>

Drai is one of sixteen professionals listed in the Nightclub Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nightclubhalloffame.com/portfolio-item/victor-drai/|title=Nightclub Hall of Fame Inductee Victor Drai}}</ref>

==Personal life== Drai was a romantic and business partner of Jacqueline Bisset's from 1973 to 1980.<ref name=ReallyBisset>{{cite book|last1=Freden|first1=Marc|title=Really!?!: A Memoir and Other Observations from a Man Who's Lived Life "Not Quite Famous Enough"|date=2010|publisher=Xlibris Corp|location=[S.l.]|isbn=978-1450073677|pages=153–154|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7vscEiMgiUAC&q=Jacqueline+Bisset+drai&pg=PA153|access-date=October 24, 2014}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}} Drai has been married three times. In 1984, he married Kelly LeBrock; their marriage ended two years later in 1986. His second marriage was in 1990 to Loryn Locklin. On April 24, 2016, he married his third wife, Yolanda Krupiarz.<ref>{{cite news |last=Leach |first=Robin |author-link=Robin Leach |date=April 25, 2016 |title=Victor Drai weds Yolanda Krupiarz in ceremony atop the Cromwell |work=Las Vegas Sun |url=https://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2016/apr/25/victor-drai-weds-yolanda-krupiarz--atop-cromwell-/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503211119/https://lasvegassun.com/vegasdeluxe/2016/apr/25/victor-drai-weds-yolanda-krupiarz--atop-cromwell-/ |archive-date=May 3, 2016}}</ref>

==Filmography== He was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}}

===Film=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Credit |- | 1984 || ''The Woman in Red'' || |- |rowspan=2| 1985 || ''The Man with One Red Shoe'' || |- | ''The Bride'' || |- | 1989 || ''Weekend at Bernie's'' || |- | 1992 || ''Folks!'' || |- | 1993 || ''Weekend at Bernie's II'' || |- | 2016 || ''The Last Film Festival'' || Co-producer |}

;As an actor

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;" ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Year ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Film ! style="background:#B0C4DE;" | Role |- | 1997 || ''An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn'' || Himself |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0236819}} * [http://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/ Drais] * [http://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/nightclub/ Drais Nightclub] * [http://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/beachclub/ Drais Beachclub] * [http://draisgroup.com/las-vegas/afterhours/ Drais After Hours]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Drai, Victor}} Category:Nightclub owners Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Paris Category:People from Casablanca Category:American people of Moroccan-Jewish descent Category:American people of French-Jewish descent Category:French people of Moroccan-Jewish descent Category:Film producers from Los Angeles Category:20th-century Moroccan Jews