Neil Simon is an American screenwriter, playwright, winner of the Tony Award in 1965, the Golden Globe in 1977 and the Pulitzer Prize in 1991. Neil died in 2018 at the age of 91 from complications from pneumonia in a Presbyterian hospital.
early years
The scripter's full name is Marvin Neil Simon. His biography informs us that the future playwright was born on 07/04/1927 in the city of New York in the USA, in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is New York's most populated borough (2.64 million inhabitants) in the western part of Long Island.
Little is known about the childhood of the Nile. In 1946, the guy was discharged from the army and entered New York University. Simon also studied at the University of Denver.
Neil had a brother named Danny. He worked with Neil on television after the playwright graduated from the university. Together they came up with sketches for comedians leading television programs.
Carier start
In the 1950s, Simon devoted himself entirely to working on the TV show "Your Best Show." Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and other famous personalities in the film industry worked on this program with Neal.
In 1961, a Broadway play by the Simon brothers “Come and Blow Your Horn” was presented to the public. In 1962, Neil begins to write plays on his own. First, he writes the libretto for the musical based on Patrick Dennis’s book “Little Me”. In 1963, the playwright created the play Barefoot in the Park. It was with this work that Simon's popularity began as a playwright and screenwriter.
The best works of the 60s - 70s
In 1965, screenwriter Neil Simon wrote the play The Strange Couple. This comedic work immediately won the love of the public. For this work, Simon was awarded the Tony Award, and in 1986 the screenwriter even wrote a female version of the play.
In 1966 and 1967, four plays by the screenwriter were already staged on Broadway - Strange Couple, Sweet Charity, Barefoot in the Park, and The Girl Starred with Stars.
In the 70s, Neil writes a new play every year. Often his work is not only put on stage, but also immediately filmed. The playwright writes the scripts for the film adaptations independently.
Examples of such work:
- the play "The Curvy Lady" of 1970 was filmed in 1981, at the box office it was called "Only When I Laugh";
- the play “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” in 1971 was filmed in 1975 with the same name;
- The production of “Solar Boys” in 1972 became a film in 1975;
- The 1976 California Hotel was staged as a movie in 1979.
The musical "Good Doctor"
In 1973, Neil writes a musical based on the work of Anton Chekhov's "Good Doctor." The production was first shown at the Eugene O'Neill Theater on Broadway on November 27, 1973. “Good Doctor” was so liked by the audience that the musical continued to be played until May of next year. During this time, the production was shown 208 times.
The main roles were played by actors Rene Oberzonua, Marsha Mason, Barnard Hughes, Christopher Plamer and Francis Sternhagen. The musical received several Tony awards at once, including for Best Actress (Frances Sterhagen), Best Sound, Best Actress (Rene Oberjonois), Best Light. Critics in the New York Times wrote that Neil Simon's Good Doctor is admirable.
During the castings for this production, the screenwriter met his wife Marsha Mason.
In 1998, it was decided to resume showing this musical at once in two theaters in New York: at the theater of the Riverside Church and at the Theater of the Melting Pot. In this version of the production, actors Jane Connell, Gordon Connell and Andre de Shields played.
The play was also filmed. In November 1978, a television version of the work was shown on American public television.
Plays and scripts of the 1980s - 2000s
In 1983-1988, Neil worked on a trilogy. This work is autobiographical, consists of the following plays:
- in 1983 - “Remembering Brighton Beach” (filmed in 1986);
- in 1985 - “Biloxi Blues” (filmed in 1988);
- in 1986 - Broadway Borders.
Other plays of this period were not very popular with the audience and did not bring success to the screenwriter.
In 1991, the play “Lost at the Yonkers” by Neil Simon was staged. The films were no less successful for the writer than for the plays. The film adaptation of “Lost in the Yonkers” was released in film distribution in 1993. The play brought Simon another Tony Award and a very prestigious literary Pulitzer Prize.
In 1996, Neil wrote the book "The Transcribed", in which he described some aspects of his life.
The scriptwriter and playwright ended his career only in 2004. His last play, The Rose Dilemma, was presented to the public in 2003. Neil’s last script, Goodbye Girl, was completed in 2004.
Rewards and death
Throughout his life, Neil Simon has earned the following honors:
- in 1965 - “Tony” for the production of “A Strange Couple”;
- in 1967 - the Evening Standard Award for "Barefoot in the Park";
- in 1978 - the Golden Globe Award for the best screenplay for the film Goodbye Dear;
- in 1985 - “Tony” for the play “Biloxi Blues”;
- in 1989 - American Comedy Awards;
- in 1991 - theatrical award "Drama Desk", Pulitzer Prize and "Tony" for the play "Lost in Yonkers";
- in 1995 - Kennedy Center Prize;
- in 2006 - Mark Twain Prize.
The scriptwriter and playwright died at the 92nd year of his life in a Presbyterian hospital in Manhattan. It happened on 08/26/2018. The cause of death was complications from pneumonia.