Jeannie Berlin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeannie Berlin
Berlin at the press photo for the film Bone (1972)
Born	Jeannie Brette May (1949-11-01) November 1, 1949 (age 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress, screenwriter
Years active	1969–present
Known for	The Heartbreak Kid
Parents	Marvin May (father) Elaine May (mother)

Jeannie Berlin (born Jeannie Brette May; November 1, 1949) is an American actress and screenwriter. She is the daughter of the famous actress and director Elaine May. Jeannie Berlin is well-known for her role in the 1972 comedy film The Heartbreak Kid. For this role, she was nominated for important awards like the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress.

She has also starred in other movies such as Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975), Margaret (2011), and The Fabelmans (2022). On television, she has appeared in popular series like The Night Of (2016), Hunters (2020), and Succession (2019–2023).

Early Life and Family Connections

Jeannie Berlin was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 1949. Her mother is Elaine May, a very talented actress, comedian, writer, and director. Her father was Marvin May, an inventor.

Jeannie chose to use her mother's maiden name, Berlin, as her stage name. This is a common practice for actors. Her mother, Elaine May, directed her in the 1972 film The Heartbreak Kid. This movie helped Jeannie get nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award.

Jeannie Berlin's Acting Journey

Jeannie Berlin started her acting career in 1969. Her first screen role was in a TV movie called In Name Only. She also performed on stage in New York. Soon, she began appearing in many films.

Some of her early movies include Getting Straight (1970), The Strawberry Statement (1970), and The Baby Maker (1970). She also acted in Portnoy's Complaint (1971) and Bone (1972).

Breakthrough with The Heartbreak Kid

In 1972, Jeannie Berlin starred in the comedy film The Heartbreak Kid. Her mother directed this movie, and the famous writer Neil Simon wrote the screenplay. Jeannie's performance in this film was highly praised.

She received nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. Many critics noticed how much she resembled her mother in her acting style.

Later Roles and Return to Acting

After The Heartbreak Kid, Jeannie Berlin played the main role in the romantic comedy Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York (1975). The next year, she appeared in an episode of the TV detective series Columbo.

Jeannie then took a break from acting in films and TV for a while. She returned in 1990, co-writing and acting in the film In the Spirit. Her mother, Elaine May, also starred in this movie.

In the 1990s, Jeannie performed in several plays in New York. She made her Broadway theatre debut in 2005 in a play written by her mother. In 2011, she returned to film acting in Margaret. Her performance earned her more positive reviews and nominations for awards.

She also appeared in films directed by famous filmmakers. These include Paul Thomas Anderson's Inherent Vice (2014) and Woody Allen's Café Society (2016).

Recent Work in TV and Film

In 2016, Jeannie Berlin received praise for her role as prosecutor Helen Weiss in the HBO miniseries The Night Of. She was considered for an Emmy Award nomination for this role.

In 2018, she played the President of the United States in the Hulu series The First. The next year, she joined the cast of the popular HBO series Succession as Cyd Peach. From 2020 to 2023, she had a recurring role in the Amazon Prime Video series Hunters.

In 2022, Jeannie Berlin appeared in the coming-of-age drama film The Fabelmans. This movie was directed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. She continues to act in films, with her latest role in You Hurt My Feelings (2023).

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jeannie Berlin para niños