Cruise Host Tony Cornelius
Mr. Tony Cornelius has an over 30-year career in television production, including network, cable, commercial, and first-run syndication. His education culminated in a Masters in Fine Arts from the American Film Institute in Producing and Cinematography. Ultimately, he would start his own production company, where he produced and directed several half hour unscripted reality projects as well Network TV situation-comedies, technical crews, films and specials, i.e. the Mary J. Blige Live Concert Series and the TOBY AWARDS Awards & Recognition at BOMA.
Committed to working closely with his father, Don Cornelius, Tony received an all-around, hands-on extensive learning experience from the ground up. He rose from Crew to Producer, Executive in Charge of Production, Executive Producer, to Sr. Vice President & General Manager of Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. overseeing all the Awards and Specials of the Soul Train franchise for over 20 years involved in all aspects of Marketing and Distribution which included (4) decades of original content stored throughout the western United States.
Mr. Cornelius also successfully assisted in negotiating mergers and acquisitions of upward to 30 million dollars as well as oversaw years of multi-million-dollar production budgets, video archives and photo libraries.
February 1, 2012 would shock his spirit when his father committed suicide. Tony would quickly respond and rise to create a permanent memorial honor for his Dad. With the help and guidance of family, friends and associates, he gathered his resources to create The Don Cornelius Foundation, a 501C3 Non-profit Organization, for the awareness and prevention of suicide.
The mission of the Foundation became raising funds to support of programs working in the area of suicide prevention, helping those who had lost loved ones and those in transition. It was also important to create an influence to culturally competent programs serving communities of color where suicide prevention (like sexual assault and domestic violence) is not discussed. The Foundation operates with Tony as President and Founder supported by an Executive Director and volunteers who do outreach.
The Foundation is active in social media and community forums each September for Suicide Prevention Week and International Suicide Prevention Day. Further, the Foundation has held a number of events and participated in speaking/workshops with various community organizations, networking and identifying groups to support - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental, Illness Urban LA), New Directions for Veterans, the LA LGBT Center, National Alliance on Suicide Prevention, LAX Federal Air Marshall Critical Intervention Response Team, Pasadena Women’s Club and the Soul Stroll event in San Mateo for health issues.
Additionally, the Foundation was invited to speak before the Congressional Black Caucus Health Brain Trust Luncheon in September 2014. This would be the first time in their 44-year history that suicide was discussed with the participants.
As Founder of the Foundation as well as President of the Don Cornelius Family of Wines Club formed to establish a self-sustaining source of funding in addition to direct fundraising. The Don Cornelius Foundation is the recognized charity event of The Soul Train Cruises via of StarVista Live (Launched Feb 2013). Tony is the Host supported by celebrity guests at every tasting event.
As host of the Soul Train Cruise since 2014 as well as host of Soul Train Cruise 2.0 which launched in 2025, Tony is also Executive Producer of “Soul Train” The Musical, he was Executive Producer of American Soul, a dramatic series which premiered on BET and BET plus.
Of all his accomplishments, he is most proud of his daughter, Christina Cornelius, Harvard University graduate, and of course his mother Delores Cornelius and brother Raymond Cornelius, who reside in Chicago, Illinois.