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Paul Mazursky

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Paul Mazursky
Mazursky in 2008
Born
Irwin Lawrence Mazursky

(1930-04-25)April 25, 1930
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 2014(2014-06-30) (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, and actor
Years active1953–2014
SpouseBetsy (Purdy) Mazursky (1953–2014, his death)

Paul Mazursky (April 25, 1930 – June 30, 2014) was an American film director, screenwriter, and actor. Known for his dramatic comedies, he was nominated for five Academy Awards: three times for Best Original Screenplay, once for Best Adapted Screenplay, and once for Best Picture for An Unmarried Woman (1978). Other films written and directed by Mazursky include Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Harry and Tonto (1974), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986).

Personal life

He was born Irwin Mazursky in Brooklyn, New York, to Jewish parents. He was the son of Jean (née Gerson), a piano player for dance classes, and David Mazursky, a laborer.[1] Mazursky's grandfather was an immigrant from Ukraine.[2] Mazursky graduated from Brooklyn College in 1951. He was an atheist.[3]

Mazursky was married to Betsy (Purdy) Mazursky from 1953 until his death.[4][5]

Career

Acting

Mazursky began his film career as an actor in Stanley Kubrick's first feature, Fear and Desire (1953). Kubrick asked for verification of his name for the credits and at that point he decided on a first-name change to Paul. Two years later he appeared in a featured position as one of a class-room of adolescents with issues towards authority in The Blackboard Jungle (1955). His acting career continued for several decades, starting with parts in episodes of television series such as The Twilight Zone and The Rifleman.

Mazursky appeared in supporting roles or cameos in most of his own films. In Moon over Parador, with the Rio Opera House available for only three days of shooting, Mazursky cast himself as a dictator's mother when Judith Malina was unavailable, playing the character in drag.

Mazursky also played supporting roles in A Star Is Born (1976), History of the World Part I (1981), Into the Night (1985), Punchline (1988), Man Trouble (1992), Carlito's Way (1993), Love Affair (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Miami Rhapsody (1995), and Crazy in Alabama (1999). He also performed the voice of the Psychologist in Antz (1998).

In later years, Mazursky had a small part as "Sunshine" the poker dealer in The Sopranos. He also appeared in five episodes of season 4 of Curb Your Enthusiasm as Mel Brooks' associate Norm, a role that he later reprised in a season 7 episode.

Writing and directing

Soon after starting his acting career, Mazursky became a writer and worked on The Danny Kaye Show in 1963. In 1965, he collaborated with Larry Tucker in crafting the script of the original pilot of The Monkees television series, in which they both also appeared in cameos.

Mazursky's debut as a film screenplay writer was the Peter Sellers comedy I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968). The following year he directed his first film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (produced and written by Mazursky and Larry Tucker), which proved to be a major critical and commercial success. The film was the fifth highest grossing of the year and earned Mazursky his first Oscar nomination.

His career behind the camera continued for the next two decades as he wrote and directed a prolific string of quirky, dramatic and critically popular films. His most successful films were contemporary dramatic comedies and include the Academy Award-winning Harry and Tonto (1974), the Best Picture-nominated An Unmarried Woman (1978), and popular hits such as Moscow on the Hudson (1984) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). In light of his comedies that tackled a number of modern social subjects, the Hollywood Reporter has stated that "from the late '60s through the '80s, [he] seemed to channel the zeitgeist..."[6] and Variety has stated that "his oeuvre smacks of cultural significance."[7]

Other films made by Mazursky during this time include the Hollywood satire Alex in Wonderland (1970), the cutting relationship comedy Blume in Love (1973), the autobiographical Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), the Jules and Jim homage Willie & Phil (1980), the contemporary Shakespeare comedy Tempest (1982), the political farce Moon over Parador (1988), and the acclaimed Isaac Bashevis Singer adaptation Enemies, a Love Story (1989).

Film critic Roger Ebert was a particular fan of Mazursky's, giving six of his films the optimal four stars in his reviews.[8] In 1986, Ebert stated that "Mazursky has a way of making comedies that are more intelligent and relevant than most of the serious films around."[9]

Mazursky experienced less success in the 1990s, beginning with Scenes from a Mall (1991), starring Woody Allen and Bette Midler. Following his filmmaking satire The Pickle (1993), which was his last writing credit, Mazursky worked only sporadically as a director on such films as Faithful (1996), Winchell (1998), Coast to Coast (2003) and most recently the documentary Yippee (2006).

Other work

In his autobiography Show Me the Magic (1999), Mazursky recounts his experiences in filmmaking and with several well-known screen personalities including Peter Sellers.

Mazursky appeared as himself in a number of documentaries on film, including A Decade Under the Influence, New York at the Movies and Screenwriters: Words Into Image.

From 2011 until his death in 2014, Mazursky served as a film critic for Vanity Fair.[10]

Accolades

Mazursky received five Academy Award nominations, four for his screenplay writing on Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Harry and Tonto (1974), An Unmarried Woman (1978) and Enemies, a Love Story (1989), and once as producer of An Unmarried Woman (nominated for Best Picture). He has also been twice nominated for a Golden Globe and twice for the Cannes Film Festival's Palm d'Or, among many other awards.

In 2000, he was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award.

In 2010, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association honored him with an award for Career Achievement.

On December 13, 2013, Mazursky was awarded with the 2,515th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in front of Musso & Frank Grill.[11] Friends and collaborators Mel Brooks, Richard Dreyfuss, and Jeff Garlin were all present.

On February 1, 2014, at the WGA Awards, Mazursky received the Screen Laurel Award, which is the lifetime achievement award of the Writers Guild of America. Comedian, filmmaker and close friend Mel Brooks presented the award.

Death

Paul Mazursky died on June 30, 2014, aged 84, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.[12][4] The cause of death was ruled to be pulmonary cardiac arrest. He is survived by his wife Betsy and his daughter Jill, who works as a writer/producer in Hollywood, as well as grandchildren Carly, Kate, Molly and Tommy, and great-grandson Luca. His daughter Meg died in 2009.[4]

Filmography

As writer and director

As writer only

As director only

Selected acting credits

References

  1. ^ "Paul Mazursky Biography (1930-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  2. ^ Farber, Stephen (2006-12-31). "A Night in Hollywood, a Day in Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-12-30. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ Farber, Stephen (2006-12-31). "A Night in Hollywood, a Day in Ukraine". The New York Times. Retrieved 2006-12-31. I've always felt very Jewish but very ambivalent about being Jewish. I'm an atheist. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b c Richard Natale (2014-07-01). "Paul Mazursky, Director of 'Unmarried Woman,' Dies at 84". Variety.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  5. ^ "Paul Mazursky's Bio at NNDB". Nndb.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  6. ^ "Paul Mazursky: How the WGA Awards Honoree Captured the Culture". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 19, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  7. ^ "Mazursky and Actors: A Love Story". Variety. Retrieved February 19, 2014. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ Emerson, Jim. "Roger Ebert on Mazursky". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  9. ^ Ebert, Roger (1986-01-31). "Roger Ebert Review of ''Down and Out in Beverly Hills''". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  10. ^ Mazursky, Paul. "Paul Mazursky in Vanity Fair". Vanityfair.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.
  11. ^ Ruymen, Jim. "Paul Mazursky honored with star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles". United Press International.
  12. ^ "Director and screenwriter Paul Mazursky dies at 84". Latimes.com. Retrieved 2014-07-10.


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