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Jerry Levitan

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Gerald Asher Levitan[1] (born 1954) is a Canadian best known as "the kid who interviewed John Lennon". He produced and starred in the animated short I Met the Walrus about his meeting with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in Toronto, Canada in 1969. Though only 14 years old, Levitan conducted an exclusive 40 minute interview with them about peace, The Beatles, and their music.[2]

The film won a Daytime Emmy in 2009 in the category of New Approaches, Daytime Entertainment.[3] It was also nominated for an Oscar in 2008 for best animated short,[2] and won Best Animated at the Manhattan Short Film Festival, the American Film Festival and the Middle East International Film Festival.[4] He is the author of the best selling, autobiographical book, I Met The Walrus released May 2009 by Harper Collins. It is the account of Levitan's childhood growing up in the sixties, his love for the Beatles, and traces in detail the day he spent with John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

In 2010, Levitan was honored by the Guggenheim Museum and YouTube when I Met The Walrus was selected in the first Biennial of Creative Video.

In July 2011 Levitan's latest animated film, Yoko Ono's My Hometown had its world premier at the Without Borders (Senza Frontiere) Film Festival in Spoleto, Italy to widespread acclaim. Levitan co-produced and directed the film. Yoko Ono narrated her poem and provided her Remember Love song which was the B-Side to Give Peace A Chance, for the soundtrack.

Biography

Levitan graduated with a B.A. from York University in Toronto and a LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University 1979,[2] and has been involved throughout his career with high profile legal cases. He is the author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Winning Everyday Legal Hassles in Canada (ISBN 0-13-575150-0).

Levitan is also an actor with roles in a string of Canadian and international films and television series, including a guest appearance in The West Wing, and one of Canada's pre-eminent children's entertainers. Performing under his alter-ego "Sir Jerry" (sir-jerry.com) and backed by a full band of rock musicians and performers, he has produced three CDs, "Bees, Butterflies & Bugs", "Sir Jerry's World", and "Time Machine," and is developing a television series.

References

  1. ^ "Lawyer Contact Information". Law Society of Upper Canada. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
  2. ^ a b c "Oscar-Nominated Film Producer Jerry Levitan '79 is coming to Osgoode". Retrieved 2008-08-12. [dead link‍]
  3. ^ Bravo!FACT-funded short wins Daytime Emmy!
  4. ^ "Canadian filmmaker in disbelief over Oscar nod". Retrieved 2008-08-12.


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