Elaine May facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elaine May
May performing in 1959
Born	Elaine Iva Berlin (1932-04-21) April 21, 1932 (age 93) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other names	Esther Dale, Elly May
Occupation	Actress comedian writer film director
Years active	1955–present
Known for	A New Leaf (1971) The Heartbreak Kid (1972) Mikey and Nicky (1976) Ishtar (1987)
Spouse(s)	Marvin Irving May ​ ​ (m. 1948; div. 1960)​ Sheldon Harnick ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1963)​ David L. Rubinfine ​ ​ (m. 1963; died 1982)​
Partner(s)	Stanley Donen (1999–2019; his death)
Children	Jeannie Berlin
Awards	Full list
Signature

Elaine Iva May (born April 21, 1932) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and director. She is famous for her smart and funny work in movies and on stage. In the 1950s, she became a star with her comedy partner, Mike Nichols. Their act, called Nichols and May, was a huge hit.

Later, May became a successful writer and director. She has won many important awards, including a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and a BAFTA Award. In 2013, President Barack Obama gave her the National Medal of Arts. In 2022, she received an Honorary Academy Award for her amazing career in film.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Elaine Iva Berlin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were actors in a traveling Yiddish theater company. As a child, Elaine performed on stage with her father. She started acting when she was only three years old.

Because her family traveled so much, she went to over 50 different schools. When she was 16, she married Marvin May and they had a daughter, Jeannie Berlin, who also became an actress.

In 1950, May moved to Chicago and started taking classes at the University of Chicago. There, she met Mike Nichols. They both joined an improvisational (or "improv") theater group called The Compass Players. Improv is a type of acting where performers make up their lines and actions on the spot.

The Comedy Team of Nichols and May

May, Nichols and Dorothy Loudon, 1959

May and Nichols were so good at improv that they decided to form their own comedy team in 1957. They moved to New York City and performed in clubs and on Broadway. Their act was new and exciting. They made fun of everyday life in a smart and witty way.

Their Broadway show, An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May, was a big success. They also released comedy albums and appeared on TV and radio. In 1962, they won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album.

Why Was Their Comedy Special?

Nichols and May in 1960

Unlike other comedy duos, Nichols and May created realistic scenes and characters. They didn't just tell jokes. They acted out funny situations that people could relate to. May was known for coming up with most of the ideas for their skits.

Their comedy was very influential. Many later comedians, like Steve Martin and Woody Allen, said that Nichols and May changed comedy forever.

The End of the Team

At the peak of their fame in 1961, Nichols and May decided to stop performing together. They wanted to try different things in their careers. Nichols became a famous director, and May focused on writing and directing movies.

They remained friends and worked together again many years later. In 1996, May wrote the screenplay for the movie The Birdcage, which Nichols directed.

A Career in Filmmaking

After her comedy act with Nichols, Elaine May became a groundbreaking film director and writer. She was one of the first women to direct major Hollywood movies.

Directing Her Own Films

Mikey and Nicky lead actors John Cassavetes (left) and Peter Falk (right) in 1971

In 1971, May directed her first film, A New Leaf. It was a dark comedy that she also wrote and starred in. The movie is now considered a classic.

She then directed other well-known films:

• The Heartbreak Kid (1972): A romantic comedy that was a big hit with critics.
• Mikey and Nicky (1976): A gangster film starring Peter Falk and John Cassavetes.
• Ishtar (1987): An adventure comedy starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman.

Writing for Other Directors

May was also a talented screenwriter. She earned Academy Award nominations for writing the screenplays for Heaven Can Wait (1978) and Primary Colors (1998). She also wrote the hit comedy The Birdcage (1996), which reunited her with Mike Nichols.

Return to Acting

May receiving the Medal of Arts award from President Obama, July 13, 2013

After focusing on writing and directing for many years, May returned to acting. In 2000, she appeared in the Woody Allen movie Small Time Crooks. Her performance won her an award from the National Society of Film Critics.

In 2016, she starred in the Amazon series Crisis in Six Scenes.

In 2018, at the age of 86, May returned to Broadway in the play The Waverly Gallery. Her performance was incredible, and she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. This made her one of the oldest actors ever to win a Tony Award.

Legacy and Influence

Elaine May is seen as a true genius in the world of comedy and film. Her smart, ironic humor inspired a whole generation of comedians. Her work as a female director in a male-dominated industry paved the way for many others.

Filmmakers and comedians today still look up to her work. Her films, especially A New Leaf and Mikey and Nicky, are studied and admired for their unique style and bold storytelling. In 2019, A New Leaf was chosen for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry because it is so culturally important.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Images for kids

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  Theater program from 1961

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  Nichols and May

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See also

In Spanish: Elaine May para niños