Oscar Nominee Paul Mazursky Dies at 84

Oscar-nominated director and screenwriter Paul Mazursky died Monday of pulmonary cardiac arrest at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports. He was 84.

Mazursky wrote and directed a number of films, including An Unmarried Woman, Down and Out in Beverly Hills,Harry and Tonto and Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice. He received five Academy Award nominations: three for Best Original Screenplay, one for Best Adapted Screenplay and one for Best Picture (An Unmarried Woman).

See more celebrities we've lost this year

Born Irwin Mazursky in Brooklyn, N.Y., he graduated from Brooklyn College and changed his first name to Paul when he began his acting career. His film debut was in Stanley Kubrick's first film, 1953's Fear and Desire. He later had supporting roles in A Star Is Born, History of the World Part I, Carlito's Way and Crazy in Alabama.

In the 1960s, he began writing and directing. Along with Larry Tucker, he penned the script for the pilot episode ofThe Monkees, and also had a cameo on the show.

His most recent acting credits were The Sopranos, on which he played poker dealer Sunshine, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, on which he guest-starred as Mel Brooks' associate Norm. Mazursky also wrote film reviews for Vanity Fair from 2011 until his death.

Mazursky received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013. He is survived by his wife, Betsy.