Woody Allen, born as Allan Stewart Konigsberg, is an American director, screenplay writer, actor, author, filmmaker, comedian, playwright, and musician, whose career spans more than six decades in Hollywood. One of the most prolific filmmakers of the world, Allen has been a recipient of several Academy, Golden Globe, and BAFTA Awards for many of his films. He won two Academy Awards for his 1977 movie Annie Hall and since then has written and directed several commercially and critically acclaimed films such as Hanna and Her Sisters (1986), Alice (1990), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2007) and Midnight in Paris (2011).
Early life
Born on December 1, 1935, in the Bronx, New York to Martin Konigsberg, a jewelry engraver and waiter, and Nettie Konigsberg, a bookkeeper, Allen was raised in Brooklyn, New York along with his sister Letty. He attended Hebrew School for eight years alongside his formal education from Public School 99, now the Isaac Asimov School for Science and Literature, and to Midwood High School, where he graduated in 1953. In school, he played basketball and was quite popular. As a teenager, he developed an interest in the clarinet and magic tricks, which he still pursues as a hobby.
He started writing jokes at the age of 15 for agent David O. Alber, who sold them to newspaper columnists, for which he received $200 a week. At the age of 17, he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen and goes by the name "Woody" in honor of Woody Herman. He dropped out of both colleges: New York University and City College of New York. Around this time he started performing stand-up comedy.
Personal life
Allen was only 20 when he married Harlene Rosen in 1956. However, the couple filed for a divorce after three unsettling years of marriage in 1959. After their divorce, Rosen sued Allen for defamation when the latter referred to her as “the Dread Mrs. Allen” in a stand-up act. It was only after seven years, in 1966, that Allen married to Louise Lasser, an actress and television writer. Their marriage last for three years until they split in 1969. In the same year, Allen began dating the actress Diane Keaton, whom he had first cast in the Broadway show Play It Again,Sam. The couple grew closer during the play's run and were together for a year.
A decade later, Allen got into a relationship with the Mia Farrow, who went on to appear in 13 of his films. Although, the two never married or lived together, the couple continued their relationship for 12 long years. After 10 years of their relationship, Allen even adopted Dylan and Moses, two of Farrow's previously adopted children. They also have a biological son, Ronan Farrow.
While Allen was still dating Farrow, towards the end of their relationship, he became romantically involved with Soon-Yi Previn, the adopted daughter of Farrow. As soon as Farrow discovered their affair, she broke up with Allen, who later married Previn in 1997. The couple have adopted two girls.
Movie Career
Allen’s first film as a screenplay writer was What’s New Pussycat? (1965), which made him realize that he would like to have more control over the film hence he decided to become a director. He made his directorial debut with What’s Up, Tiger Lily? (1966), where he dubbed his own comedic dialogues over a Japanese spy film, making the whole premise about unearthing the surreptitious recipe for a salad egg. His first, proper directorial venture was Take the Money and Run in 1969, which was co-written with Mickey Rose. Rose also worked with him to write the scripts of Bananas 1971. He then went to make such films as Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (1972), Sleeper (1973), and Love and Death (1975) before hitting gold with Annie Hall (1977). The film won several awards including Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role for Diane Keaton, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Woody Allen in the 1977 Academy Awards. The hugely popular film was ranked No. 35 on the American Film Institute's "100 Best Movies" and No. 4 on the AFI list of 100 Best Comedies. Allen made eight films with Keaton and according to her Annie Hall was written for her.
Manhattan (1979), which starred Meryl Streep, Diane Keaton and Allen, is often considered to pay homage to the city of New York. This black and white film explores the relationship between a writer in his 40’s played by Allen and a 17-year-old Mary. Stardust Memories (1980), which Allen considers to be one of his best films, has its protagonist Sandy Bates, a successful filmmaker, reflect on his career and his past relationships. Allen won multiple awards nominations for The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), such as the BAFTA Award for Best Film nominations at the Oscars, Writers’ Guild of Awards. A self-reflexive film, it looks at the immersive aspect of films during the 1930s. The film is a romantic fantasy, where the reel and real life merge, starring Mia Farrow and Jeff Daniels in the lead. TIME has included it in one of the 100 best films of all time. Hannah and her Sisters (1986) looks into the complex web of human relationships between three sisters and the characters who people their life. His Husbands and Wives (1992), a comedy-drama, received two Oscar nominations: Best Supporting Actress for Judy Davis and Best Original Screenplay for Allen.
In the 2000s, his most successful film was Matchpoint (2005), which starred Scarlett Johansson and Jonathon Rhys Meyers. The film grossed more than $23 million domestically and over $62 million in internationally. The film explores the relationships of people in upper class London – shift from his pet setting of intellectual New York. He reunited with Johansson for the romantic comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2007), which also starred Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem. Cruz won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Academy Awards. The film won Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy at the Golden Globe awards.
Blue Jasmine (2013), which has for its plot the life of a Manhattan socialite who has to fallen on tough times, won Cate Blanchett an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, the SAG Award, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress. Allen earned a nomination for Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards for the film. Allen considers Manhattan, Stardust Memories and Matchpoint to be amongst his best films.
TV Career
Allen who had already been writing jokes and sending them to comedians was extended an invitation to the NBC Writer's Development Program in 1955, after which he worked on The NBC Comedy Hour in Los Angeles. He went on to script shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show and Caesar’s Hours. By 1965, he had his own television show titled The Woody Allen Show, which was a mix of humor and interviews. In 1994, he directed and acted in an adaptation of his play Don't Drink the Water alongside Michael J Fox.
Allen made his first television series Crisis in Six Scenes, which is set in the 1960s. Apart from Allen, it also stars Elaine May and Miley Cyrus. Allen is quoted to have said about the show: "It was a catastrophic mistake. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm floundering. I expect this to be a cosmic embarrassment.”
Stand-Up Comedian
Allen also dabbled in stand-up comedy from 1960-1969 to complement his writing. It was here that he developed his nebbish persona, that would go onto become his trademark style.
Playwright
Allen also wrote plays for Broadway: Don't Drink the Water (1966), Play It Again, Sam (1969) which ran for 453 performances; The Floating Light Bulb (1981), which is said to be based on his childhood enthrallment with magic tricks. He has also written multiple one-act plays such as Riverside Drive, Old Saybrook and Honeymoon Motel.