Woody Allen
Allan Stewart Konigsberg
(December 1, 1935, Brooklyn, NY)
Nationality: United States of America
Category: Celebrities
Occupation: Film Directors, Actors
Unique distinction: He is a film genius, one of the Hollywood icons, and the winner of four Academy Awards (24 nominations). Major Genres: Comedy, Drama.
Gender: Male
(December 1, 1935, Brooklyn, NY)
Nationality: United States of America
Category: Celebrities
Occupation: Film Directors, Actors
Unique distinction: He is a film genius, one of the Hollywood icons, and the winner of four Academy Awards (24 nominations). Major Genres: Comedy, Drama.
Gender: Male
Quotes:
1. Eighty percent of success is showing up.
2. What if nothing exists and we’re all in somebody’s dream?
3. I’ve never been an intellectual but I have this look.
4. Life is for the living.
5. Tradition is the illusion of permanence.
6. In my house I’m the boss, my wife is just the decision-maker.
7. I tended to place my wife under a pedestal.
8. Your perception of time changes as you get older, because you see how brief everything is. You see how meaningless . . . I don’t want to depress you, but it’s a meaningless little flicker.
9. Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once.
10. What a world. It could be so wonderful if it wasn’t for certain people.
11. I think what I’m saying is that I’m really impotent against the overwhelming bleakness of the universe and that the only thing I can do is my little gift and do it the best I can, and that is about the best I can do, which is cold comfort.
12. My sets are boring. Nothing exciting ever happens, and I barely talk to the actors.
1. Eighty percent of success is showing up.
2. What if nothing exists and we’re all in somebody’s dream?
3. I’ve never been an intellectual but I have this look.
4. Life is for the living.
5. Tradition is the illusion of permanence.
6. In my house I’m the boss, my wife is just the decision-maker.
7. I tended to place my wife under a pedestal.
8. Your perception of time changes as you get older, because you see how brief everything is. You see how meaningless . . . I don’t want to depress you, but it’s a meaningless little flicker.
9. Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once.
10. What a world. It could be so wonderful if it wasn’t for certain people.
11. I think what I’m saying is that I’m really impotent against the overwhelming bleakness of the universe and that the only thing I can do is my little gift and do it the best I can, and that is about the best I can do, which is cold comfort.
12. My sets are boring. Nothing exciting ever happens, and I barely talk to the actors.
Achievements and contributions:
Social and professional position: Woody Allen is a famous American film director, screenwriter, actor, writer, musician, and playwright.
His main contribution to (Best known for): He is widely considered one of America’s greatest filmmakers and famous actors.
His main contribution to (Best known for): He is widely considered one of America’s greatest filmmakers and famous actors.
Contributions:
Allen’s distinctive films, which run the gamut from dramas to screwball sex comedies, have made him a notable American director. He is best known for his bittersweet comic films containing elements of parody, slapstick, and the absurd.
Allen writes and directs his movies and has also acted in the majority of them. He is also distinguished by his rapid rate of production and his very large body of work.
For inspiration, Allen draws heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema, among a wealth of other fields of interest.
Allen came into his own in the 1970s as a writer, actor and director in movie comedies like Bananas (1971) and Sleeper (1973).
He won the Best Picture Oscar for his Ode to Modern Love in New York, Annie Hall (1977) and since then he’s been considered a major American filmmaker.
Allen has written and directed a new film almost every year since the late 70s.
He has averaged about one movie a year, including serious films such as Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Husbands and Wives (1992), and lighthearted comedies such as Zelig (1983) and Bullets Over Broadway (1994), ‘Mighty Aphrodite’ in 1995, which won an Oscar, Best Actress in a Supporting Role Mira Sorvino, ‘Everybody Says I Love You’ in 1996.
Still, he’s widely considered one of America’s greatest filmmakers, and famous actors still speak of being “in a Woody” as if it’s the next best thing to winning an Oscar.
Allen writes and directs his movies and has also acted in the majority of them. He is also distinguished by his rapid rate of production and his very large body of work.
For inspiration, Allen draws heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema, among a wealth of other fields of interest.
Allen came into his own in the 1970s as a writer, actor and director in movie comedies like Bananas (1971) and Sleeper (1973).
He won the Best Picture Oscar for his Ode to Modern Love in New York, Annie Hall (1977) and since then he’s been considered a major American filmmaker.
Allen has written and directed a new film almost every year since the late 70s.
He has averaged about one movie a year, including serious films such as Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) and Husbands and Wives (1992), and lighthearted comedies such as Zelig (1983) and Bullets Over Broadway (1994), ‘Mighty Aphrodite’ in 1995, which won an Oscar, Best Actress in a Supporting Role Mira Sorvino, ‘Everybody Says I Love You’ in 1996.
Still, he’s widely considered one of America’s greatest filmmakers, and famous actors still speak of being “in a Woody” as if it’s the next best thing to winning an Oscar.
First Major Screen Credit: What’s New Pussycat? (1965).
Career Highlights: Crimes and Misdemeanors, Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall.
Career Highlights: Crimes and Misdemeanors, Hannah and Her Sisters, Annie Hall.
Honours and Awards:
Allen has won four Academy Awards: three for Best Original Screenplay Annie Hall (1978), Hannah and Her Sisters (1987) and Midnight in Paris (2011).
He has 24 Oscar nominations: 16 as a screenwriter, seven as a director, and once as an actor.
He also won 2 Golden Globes and ten British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. In 2004 Comedy Central ranked Allen fourth on a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians
Awards:
Oscar 4 wins and 24 nominations.
Oscar for Best Director 1978 for Annie Hall (1977).
Oscar for Best Screenplay 1978 for Annie Hall (shared).
Oscar for Best Screenplay 1987 for Hannah and Her Sisters(1986).
Oscar for Best Screenplay Midnight in Paris (2011).
Golden Globe 2 wins and 13 nominations.
Golden Globe 1986 for The Purple Rose of Cairo (best screenplay).
Golden Globe 2012 for Midnight in Paris (best screenplay).
British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 10 wins 24 nominations.
Grammy Awards 1win 3 nominations.
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Midnight in Paris (2012).
Major works: Sleeper (1973), Love and Death (1975), Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979),
Zelig (1983), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989),
He has 24 Oscar nominations: 16 as a screenwriter, seven as a director, and once as an actor.
He also won 2 Golden Globes and ten British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards. In 2004 Comedy Central ranked Allen fourth on a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians
Awards:
Oscar 4 wins and 24 nominations.
Oscar for Best Director 1978 for Annie Hall (1977).
Oscar for Best Screenplay 1978 for Annie Hall (shared).
Oscar for Best Screenplay 1987 for Hannah and Her Sisters(1986).
Oscar for Best Screenplay Midnight in Paris (2011).
Golden Globe 2 wins and 13 nominations.
Golden Globe 1986 for The Purple Rose of Cairo (best screenplay).
Golden Globe 2012 for Midnight in Paris (best screenplay).
British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 10 wins 24 nominations.
Grammy Awards 1win 3 nominations.
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Midnight in Paris (2012).
Major works: Sleeper (1973), Love and Death (1975), Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979),
Zelig (1983), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989),
Husbands and Wives (1992), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Deconstructing Harry (1997),
Small Time Crooks (2000, with Tracey Ullman), Hollywood Ending (2002), Anything Else (2002, starring Christina Ricci), Melinda and Melinda (2004), Match Point (2005, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, with Johansson and Javier Bardem), Whatever Works (2009), Midnight in Paris (2011), Blue Jasmine (2013), Irrational Man (2015), Café Society (2016), Wonder Wheel (2017), A Rainy Day in New York (2019), Rifkin’s Festival (2020).
Small Time Crooks (2000, with Tracey Ullman), Hollywood Ending (2002), Anything Else (2002, starring Christina Ricci), Melinda and Melinda (2004), Match Point (2005, with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008, with Johansson and Javier Bardem), Whatever Works (2009), Midnight in Paris (2011), Blue Jasmine (2013), Irrational Man (2015), Café Society (2016), Wonder Wheel (2017), A Rainy Day in New York (2019), Rifkin’s Festival (2020).
Plays: Don’t Drink the Water (1966), Play it Again, Sam (1969), The Front (1976, Humourous books: Getting Even (1971), Without Feathers (1976).
Career and personal life:
Origin: He was born and raised in New York City, the son of Nettie (née Cherrie) a bookkeeper at her family’s delicatessen, and Martin Konigsberg a jewellery engraver and waiter.
Both of his grandfathers were immigrants, one of Austro-Jewish descent and the other of Russo-Jewish descent. His parents were both born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Education: After Midwood High School, Brooklyn, NY (1953), he went to New York University (NYU), where he studied communication and film. He was never committed as a student, so he failed a film course and was eventually expelled. He later briefly attended City College of New York and eventually taught at The New School.
Both of his grandfathers were immigrants, one of Austro-Jewish descent and the other of Russo-Jewish descent. His parents were both born and raised on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Education: After Midwood High School, Brooklyn, NY (1953), he went to New York University (NYU), where he studied communication and film. He was never committed as a student, so he failed a film course and was eventually expelled. He later briefly attended City College of New York and eventually taught at The New School.
Career highlights:
Intending to be a playwright, Allen began writing stand-up comedy monologues while still in high school.
At the age of 15, he started selling one-liners to gossip columns, receiving $200 a week.
At the age of 17, he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen.
To raise the money he began writing gags to newspaper columnists.
He was always quick with a quip, and by the time he was 18, he was writing one-liners for Guy Lombardo, Danny Kaye, and Bob Hope.
At age 19, he started writing scripts for The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, Caesar’s Hour and other television shows.
In 1961, he started a new career as a stand-up comedian, debuting in a Greenwich Village club called the Duplex.
Through the rest of the 60s and 70s, Allen made hilarious comedies before he decided to “quit clowning around” and began making more serious films.
His first movie production was What’s New, Pussycat? in 1965, for which he wrote the initial screenplay.
He directed his first film a year later, What’s Up, Tiger Lily? in 1966.
He wrote over 40 screenplays for his films, among them: Stardust Memories (1980), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Match Point (2005), and Midnight in Paris (2011). His last works are Blue Jasmine (2013), and the mystery drama Irrational Man (2015) with Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey and Jamie Blackley. Café Society (2016) with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and Blake Lively.
He directed his films Wonder Wheel (2017), starring Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake and A Rainy Day in New York (2019), starring Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Elle Fanning, Jude Law, Diego Luna, and Liev Schreiber.
On September 18, 2020, his film Rifkin’s Festival, premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. On March 2, 2020, it was announced that Grand Central Publishing would release Allen’s autobiography, Apropos of Nothing.
At the age of 15, he started selling one-liners to gossip columns, receiving $200 a week.
At the age of 17, he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen.
To raise the money he began writing gags to newspaper columnists.
He was always quick with a quip, and by the time he was 18, he was writing one-liners for Guy Lombardo, Danny Kaye, and Bob Hope.
At age 19, he started writing scripts for The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, Caesar’s Hour and other television shows.
In 1961, he started a new career as a stand-up comedian, debuting in a Greenwich Village club called the Duplex.
Through the rest of the 60s and 70s, Allen made hilarious comedies before he decided to “quit clowning around” and began making more serious films.
His first movie production was What’s New, Pussycat? in 1965, for which he wrote the initial screenplay.
He directed his first film a year later, What’s Up, Tiger Lily? in 1966.
He wrote over 40 screenplays for his films, among them: Stardust Memories (1980), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Match Point (2005), and Midnight in Paris (2011). His last works are Blue Jasmine (2013), and the mystery drama Irrational Man (2015) with Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Parker Posey and Jamie Blackley. Café Society (2016) with Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, and Blake Lively.
He directed his films Wonder Wheel (2017), starring Kate Winslet and Justin Timberlake and A Rainy Day in New York (2019), starring Timothée Chalamet, Selena Gomez, Elle Fanning, Jude Law, Diego Luna, and Liev Schreiber.
On September 18, 2020, his film Rifkin’s Festival, premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. On March 2, 2020, it was announced that Grand Central Publishing would release Allen’s autobiography, Apropos of Nothing.
Personal life:
His childhood wasn’t particularly happy. His parents didn’t get along, and he had a rocky relationship with his stern, temperamental mother. Allen spoke Yiddish during his early years and, after attending Hebrew school for eight years, went to Public School 99 and to Midwood High School.
As a young boy, he became intrigued with magic tricks and playing the clarinet. Later Allen is also an accomplished jazz clarinettist, a hobby featured in the 1998 documentary Wild Man Blues. These are two hobbies he continues to do today.
He was married three times. His wives were Harlene Rosen (1954–1959) and Louise Lasser (1966–1969). Recently He has been married to Soon-Yi Previn (1997–present). Allen has 2 sons and 3 daughters: Moses Farrow (son), Dylan Farrow (daughter), Ronan Farrow (son), Bechet Dumaine Allen (daughter), and Manzie Tio Allen (daughter).
He was also known as a sympathetic director for women, writing strong and well-defined characters for them. Among his featured performers were Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow, with both of whom he was romantically involved.
Five actors have won six Academy Awards for their work in Allen films: Diane Keaton (Best Actress, Annie Hall), Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters), Dianne Wiest (Best Supporting Actress, Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway), Mira Sorvino (Best Supporting Actress, Mighty Aphrodite), and Penélope Cruz (Best Supporting Actress, Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
Zest: Has been nominated or won 136 awards, more than Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd combined. Refuses to watch any of his movies once released. He is a vegetarian and writes his scripts on a typewriter.
As a young boy, he became intrigued with magic tricks and playing the clarinet. Later Allen is also an accomplished jazz clarinettist, a hobby featured in the 1998 documentary Wild Man Blues. These are two hobbies he continues to do today.
He was married three times. His wives were Harlene Rosen (1954–1959) and Louise Lasser (1966–1969). Recently He has been married to Soon-Yi Previn (1997–present). Allen has 2 sons and 3 daughters: Moses Farrow (son), Dylan Farrow (daughter), Ronan Farrow (son), Bechet Dumaine Allen (daughter), and Manzie Tio Allen (daughter).
He was also known as a sympathetic director for women, writing strong and well-defined characters for them. Among his featured performers were Diane Keaton and Mia Farrow, with both of whom he was romantically involved.
Five actors have won six Academy Awards for their work in Allen films: Diane Keaton (Best Actress, Annie Hall), Michael Caine (Best Supporting Actor, Hannah and Her Sisters), Dianne Wiest (Best Supporting Actress, Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway), Mira Sorvino (Best Supporting Actress, Mighty Aphrodite), and Penélope Cruz (Best Supporting Actress, Vicky Cristina Barcelona).
Zest: Has been nominated or won 136 awards, more than Charles Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Harold Lloyd combined. Refuses to watch any of his movies once released. He is a vegetarian and writes his scripts on a typewriter.