Alan Jay Lerner Biography

Fast Facts

• Won three Tony awards, all when paired with Frederick Lowe, including two for the Broadway musical, "My Fair Lady," and one for the novel-based film, "Gigi․"
• While attending college at Harvard University, he got into an accident in a boxing ring causing him to lose sight in his left eye, and due to this injury he could not serve in World War II
• Most of his Broadway musicals were later adapted into film, including his hits "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot," on which he would take the role as playwright and screenwriter
• Partnered with Frederick Lowe and wrote a number of Broadway successes including the 1967 popular musical, "Camelot․"
• He was offered to write the English translation of the very popular French musical "Les Misérables," but had to turn it down due to a recent undiagnosed brain tumor causing him to lose memory
• Released his autobiography, "The Street Where I Live," which consisted of personal information and information about all of his successful musicals "My Fair Lady" and "Camelot," and his screenplay for the film "Gigi․"
• It was known that he would take time and often struggle when writing lyrics, but it was a surprise when he completed "I Could Have Danced All Night" from "My Fair Lady" in one 24-hour period