Art Buchwald facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Art Buchwald
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Buchwald in 1995
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| Born | October 20, 1925 New York City, New York, U.S.
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| Died | January 17, 2007 (aged 81) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Spouse(s) | Ann McGarry |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Helen and Joseph Buchwald |
Arthur Buchwald (BUK-wahld; October 20, 1925 – January 17, 2007) was a famous American humorist and writer. He was best known for his funny newspaper column in The Washington Post. At one point, his column was printed in over 500 newspapers across the country. He often wrote about politics and current events in a humorous way.
Buchwald started writing as a journalist in Paris after World War II. He wrote about restaurants and nightclubs for the Paris Herald Tribune. He lived among many other Americans in Paris at that time. When he returned to the United States in 1962, he kept writing his columns and books. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1982 for his excellent commentary. He also received other awards for his work.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Growing Up in New York
Art Buchwald was born in New York City in 1925. His family was Jewish, and his parents had moved from Austria-Hungary. He was the youngest of four children. When his father's business struggled, young Art lived in foster homes for a while. He was later reunited with his father and sisters. The family settled in Hollis, New York. Buchwald did not finish high school. He left home when he was 17 years old.
Joining the Marines
Buchwald wanted to join the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He was too young to join by himself. So, he found a way to get permission to join. From 1942 to 1945, Buchwald served in the Marines. He spent two years fighting in the Pacific Ocean area. He left the Marines as a sergeant. He once joked that the Marines did not have much use for humorists.
A Career in Journalism
Starting at USC
After the war, Buchwald went to the University of Southern California (USC). He was able to attend even though he had not finished high school. At USC, he worked on the campus magazine. He also wrote a column for the college newspaper. The university later gave him an honorary degree because of his success.
Writing in Paris
In 1949, Buchwald moved to Paris. He got a job writing for Variety. Soon after, he started writing for the European edition of the New York Herald Tribune. His column, "Paris After Dark," was about fun things to do in Parisian nightlife. It became very popular. He then started another column, and soon both were combined into "Europe's Lighter Side." People on both sides of the Atlantic enjoyed his writing.
In Paris, Buchwald met many famous American writers. He also had brief meetings with people like artist Pablo Picasso and writer Ernest Hemingway.
Explaining Thanksgiving
In 1952, Buchwald wrote a funny column. He tried to explain the Thanksgiving holiday to French readers. He used funny, mixed-up French translations. He loved this column so much that he published it every Thanksgiving during his life.
Humor and Presidents
Buchwald was known for his clever humor. Once, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower's press secretary, James Hagerty, got upset about a fake news report Buchwald wrote. Buchwald had joked that reporters asked about the president's breakfast. Hagerty called the article "unadulterated rot." Buchwald famously replied, "Hagerty is wrong. I write adulterated rot." This showed his quick wit.
While in Paris, Buchwald was the only reporter to interview the famous singer Elvis Presley. Elvis was in the U.S. Army at the time. Buchwald wrote about Elvis's impromptu performances at a nightclub, which became legendary.
Return to the U.S.
Buchwald returned to the United States in 1962. He became a columnist for The Washington Post. He often wrote about politics in a funny way. When asked where he got his ideas, he said he just read the newspaper. He felt that real life was often absurd enough. His column was printed in over 550 newspapers at its peak. He also wrote more than 30 books, including memoirs.
Family Life
While living in Paris, Art Buchwald met Ann McGarry. She was an Irish-American fashion designer. They got married. After moving back to the United States, they adopted three children. They lived in Washington, D.C., and spent summers on Martha's Vineyard. After 40 years of marriage, they separated. Ann passed away in 1994.
Film and TV Appearances
Buchwald also had some fun experiences in movies and TV.
- He had a small role in Alfred Hitchcock's movie To Catch a Thief (1955).
- He helped with the English dialogue for the movie Playtime.
- He appeared in a 1972 episode of the TV series Mannix.
In 1988, Buchwald and a partner sued Paramount Pictures. They claimed the movie Coming to America used his story idea. Buchwald won the lawsuit and received money. This case became the subject of a book.
Later Years and Legacy
Health and Humor
In his later years, Buchwald faced some health challenges. He openly shared his experiences. In 2000, he had a stroke. In 2006, he had a leg amputated due to poor circulation from diabetes. He also decided to stop kidney dialysis.
Despite his health issues, Buchwald kept his sense of humor. He invited reporters to interview him from the hospice where he was staying. He joked that he was a "poster boy for hospices – because I lived." He even wrote a book called Too Soon to Say Goodbye about his time there. The book included funny tributes from his friends.
Death
Art Buchwald passed away from kidney failure on January 17, 2007, at his son's home in Washington, D.C. He was remembered for his wit and his ability to make people laugh, even in difficult times.
Awards and Recognition
- In 1977, he received an award for great public service.
- In 1982, Buchwald won the Pulitzer Prize for Outstanding Commentary.
- In 1991, he was chosen to be part of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.
- In 1994, he received the Golden Plate Award.
Selected Books
Buchwald published many collections of his columns and memoirs. Here are a few:
- Paris After Dark (1950)
- I Chose Caviar (1957)
- Don't Forget to Write (1960)
- I Chose Capitol Punishment (1963)
- The Bollo Caper: A Fable for Children of All Ages (1974)
- Irving's Delight: At Last! a Cat Story for the Whole Family! (1975)
- Washington Is Leaking (1976)
- The Buchwald Stops Here (1979)
- "You Can Fool All of the People All the Time" (1985)
- Leaving Home: A Memoir (1994)
- I'll Always Have Paris: A Memoir (1995)
- Too Soon to Say Goodbye (2006) - his autobiography
Images for kids
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Art Buchwald in 1953
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Buchwald editing his work in 1994
See Also
In Spanish: Art Buchwald para niños
