Paul Mazursky

Infobox actor

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caption = Paul Mazursky at 43rd KVIFF
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birthdate = Birth date and age|1930|4|25|mf=y
birthplace = Brooklyn, New York
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occupation = film director, screenplay writer, actor
yearsactive = 1953–present
spouse = Betsy Mazursky (?–present)
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Paul Mazursky (born April 25, 1930) is an American film director, screenplay writer and actor.

Biography

Personal life

He was born Irwin Mazursky in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Jean (née Gerson), a piano player for dance classes, and David Mazursky, a laborer. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/23/Paul-Mazursky.html Paul Mazursky Biography (1930-) ] ] His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Ukraine.cite news | last =Farber| first =Stephen| coauthors=| title =A Night in Hollywood, a Day in Ukraine| pages=| publisher =The New York Times| date =2006-12-31 | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/movies/31farb.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin| accessdate =2006-12-30 ] He graduated from Brooklyn College in 1951. Mazursky is an atheist. [cite news | quote=I’ve always felt very Jewish but very ambivalent about being Jewish. I’m an atheist. | last =Farber| first =Stephen| coauthors=| title =A Night in Hollywood, a Day in Ukraine| pages=| publisher =The New York Times| date =2006-12-31 | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/movies/31farb.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin| accessdate =2006-12-31 ]

Career

Mazursky made his film debut as an actor in Stanley Kubrick's first feature, "Fear and Desire", in which he changed his first name to Paul, and later appeared as a juvenile delinquent in the 1955 film "The Blackboard Jungle". He soon 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.

His acting career has continued for several decades, starting with television work in episodes of "The Twilight Zone" and "The Rifleman". He has 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) and "Crazy in Alabama" (1999). He also performed the voice of the Psychologist in "Antz" (1998).

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 by Larry Tucker). His career behind the camera would continue for the next two decades as he would direct an impressive string of quirky, dramatic and critically popular films including "Alex in Wonderland" (1970), "Blume in Love" (1973), "Harry and Tonto" (1974), the autobiographical "Next Stop, Greenwich Village" (1976), "An Unmarried Woman" (1978), "Willie and Phil" (1980), "Tempest" (1982), "Moscow on the Hudson" (1984), "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (1986), "Moon Over Parador" (1988), "Enemies, a Love Story" (1989) and "Scenes from a Mall" (1991).

Following his film making satire "The Pickle" (1993), Mazursky has 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).

He has recently published his autobiography in which he recounts his experiences in film making and several well-known screen personalities including Peter Sellers.

Mazursky has appeared as himself in a number of documentaries on film, including "A Decade Under the Influence", "New York at the Movies" and "". 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.

In recent years, Mazursky had a small part as "Sunshine" the poker dealer in "The Sopranos". He also appeared in five episodes of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" as Mel Brooks' associate Norm.

Mazursky has 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).

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0005196|name=Paul Mazursky
*tvtome person|id=21556|name=Paul Mazursky