Alan Jay Lerner
Birth Name:
Alan Jay Lerner
Birth Place:
New York City, New York, United States
Profession
Soundtrack, Writer, Music department, Producer
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
Awards
- 1952Oscar - Best Writing, Story and Screenplay:Winner
- 1952Oscar - Best Music, Original Song:Nominated
- 1952WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Winner
- 1959Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Winner
- 1959Oscar - Best Music, Original Song:Winner
- 1959Golden Laurel - Top Song:Nominated
- 1959WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Winner
- 1965Oscar - Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium:Nominated
- 1965WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Nominated
- 1968Golden Globe - Best Original Song:Winner
- 1968WGA Award (Screen) - Best Written American Musical:Nominated
- 1975Oscar - Best Music, Original Song:Nominated
- 1975Oscar - Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation:Nominated
- 1975Golden Globe - Best Original Score - Motion Picture:Winner
- 1975Golden Globe - Best Original Song - Motion Picture:Nominated