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Barry Levinson Biography

Birth Name:Barry Levinson

Birth Place:Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Profession Producer, Director, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack, Music department, Camera department

Fast Facts

Holds a Doctor of Fine Arts degree, honoris causa, from American University for his work in Communications and his impact on the film and TV industry
Won the Nancy Susan Reynolds Award for outstanding portrayal of sexual responsibility in "Homicide: Life On The Streets․"
Started his career as a writer for variety shows, including "The Marty Feldman Comedy Machine" and "The Carol Burnett Show․"
Quote: "It gets harder and harder to make movies about human beings․ These movies are like an endangered species․ Everything is simplify, simplify now․ How many movies have subplots anymore?"
Quote: "I'm not particularly known for doing any one thing․ I sort of like to go all over the place․"
Quote: "We excuse movies like 'Independence Day' that really lack logic and say, 'It -- doesn't make any sense, but it's a ride․' I thought a movie was a movie and a ride was a ride․"
Frequently works with character actor Ralph Tabakin
Strives to create intelligent, multi-layered films that address serious topics with wit
Wrote an autobiographical book about a two-week period in his life called "What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Lines․"
Graduated from Forest Park High School in Baltimore
Is a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team

Awards

1974Primetime Emmy-Best Writing in Variety or Music: winner
1975Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
1977WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1980Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1982LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1982NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1983Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1983BSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1983NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1983WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1984Truly Moving Picture Award-: winner
1984Hochi Film Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1986Grand Prize-: nominated
1988Truly Moving Picture Award-: winner
1988KCFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1989Oscar-Best Director: winner
1989Amanda-Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm): nominated
1989Golden Berlin Bear-Best Film: winner
1989Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost"-: winner
1989David-Best Foreign Film (Miglior Film Straniero): winner
1989David-Best Foreign Director (Migliore Regista Straniero): nominated
1989DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1989Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1989Silver Ribbon-Best Foreign Director (Regista del Miglior Film Straniero): nominated
1990César-Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger): nominated
1990Jupiter Award-Best International Film: winner
1990Readers' Choice Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1990Readers' Choice Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1991Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1991DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1991Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1991LAFCA Award-Best Director: winner
1991WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: winner
1992Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1992Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1992Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
1992CFCA Award-Best Director: nominated
1992DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1992Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1992Stinker Award-Worst Picture: nominated
1993Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing in a Drama Series: winner
1993Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
1994DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series - Night: nominated
1998Golden Berlin Bear-Best Film: nominated
1998Silver Berlin Bear-Special Jury Prize: winner
1998OFTA Film Award-Best Comedy/Musical Picture: nominated
2010IDA Award-Continuing Series: winner
2010OFTA Television Award-Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
2010Satellite Award-Best Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011Felix-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
2011Banff Rockie Award-Best Made-for-TV Movie: nominated
2011Critics Choice Award-Best Picture Made for Television: nominated
2011DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Mini-Series: nominated
2011PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2012Felix-Best Director: nominated
2012People's Choice Award-Midnight Madness: nominated
2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Miniseries or Movie: nominated
2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
2018DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries: nominated
2018PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated
2019DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series: nominated
2019PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Streamed or Televised Motion Pictures: nominated
2022Cinema for Peace Award-Cinema for Peace Dove for the Most Valuable Film of the Year: nominated
2022DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Limited Series: nominated
2022PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television: nominated
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series: nominated
2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Television Movie: nominated