Paul Mazursky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Mazursky
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Mazursky in 2008
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| Born |
Irwin Lawrence Mazursky
April 25, 1930 |
| Died | June 30, 2014 (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Brooklyn College |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1953–2011 |
| Spouse(s) |
Betsy Mazursky
(m. 1953) |
| Children | 2 |
Irwin Lawrence "Paul" Mazursky (April 25, 1930 – June 30, 2014) was an American film director, writer, and actor. He was famous for his comedies that often explored modern social topics. Paul Mazursky was nominated for five Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. He was nominated three times for Best Original Screenplay, once for Best Adapted Screenplay, and once for Best Picture for his movie An Unmarried Woman (1978). Some of his other well-known films include Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Harry and Tonto (1974), and Moscow on the Hudson (1984).
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Early Life and Education
Paul Mazursky was born in Brooklyn, New York. His family was Jewish. His mother, Jean, played piano for dance classes, and his father, David, was a laborer. Mazursky's grandfather came from Ukraine. Paul Mazursky finished his studies at Brooklyn College in 1951.
Career in Film and TV
Starting as an Actor
Mazursky began his career as an actor. His first movie role was in Stanley Kubrick's film Fear and Desire (1953). He didn't like his first name, Irwin. His girlfriend suggested he use "Paul" for his screen name, and he agreed.
Two years later, he appeared in The Blackboard Jungle (1955). He played a teenager who had problems with authority. For many years, he continued acting in TV shows like The Twilight Zone. He also performed comedy acts in nightclubs.
Mazursky often appeared in his own films, sometimes in small roles. In Moon over Parador (1988), he even played a dictator's mother in drag because the original actress wasn't available.
He also had roles in other movies like A Star Is Born (1976) and Carlito's Way (1993). Later in his career, he appeared in popular TV series. He played a poker dealer named "Sunshine" in The Sopranos. He also appeared in several episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Writing and Directing Movies
Soon after acting, Mazursky started writing. He worked on The Danny Kaye Show in 1963. In 1965, he helped write the first episode of The Monkees TV show.
His first movie as a writer was the comedy I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968). The next year, he directed his first film, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. He also wrote it with Larry Tucker. This movie was a big success and earned Mazursky his first Oscar nomination.
For the next twenty years, he wrote and directed many unique and popular films. His movies often explored modern social topics with humor and drama. Some of his most successful films include Harry and Tonto (1974), which won an Academy Award, and An Unmarried Woman (1978), which was nominated for Best Picture. Other popular movies were Moscow on the Hudson (1984) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986).
Film critic Roger Ebert really liked Mazursky's work. He said that Mazursky made comedies that were "more intelligent and relevant than most of the serious films around."
In the 1990s, Mazursky's films were less successful. His last writing credit was for The Pickle (1993). He directed a few more films after that, including the documentary Yippee (2006).
Every film Mazursky wrote and directed was set in either New York City or Los Angeles. His movies received a total of twelve Academy Award nominations and nineteen Golden Globe nominations.
Other Work and Recognition
In 1999, Mazursky wrote a book about his life in filmmaking called Show Me the Magic. He also appeared as himself in several documentaries about movies.
From 2011 until he passed away in 2014, Mazursky worked as a film critic for Vanity Fair magazine.
Mazursky received many awards for his work. He was nominated for five Academy Awards. In 2013, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Famous friends like Mel Brooks were there to celebrate with him. In 2014, he received the Screen Laurel Award, a lifetime achievement award from the Writers Guild of America.
Personal Life
Paul Mazursky was married to Betsy Mazursky, a librarian and social worker, from 1953 until he died. They had two daughters, Meg and Jill. Paul Mazursky passed away on June 30, 2014, in Los Angeles, at the age of 84.
Images for kids
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Paul Mazursky in 2008
See also
In Spanish: Paul Mazursky para niños
