Barry Levinson
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: "I'm not particularly known for doing any one thing․ I sort of like to go all over the place․"
- 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: "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
- Graduated from Forest Park High School in Baltimore
- Is a minority owner of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team
- Wrote an autobiographical book about a two-week period in his life called "What Just Happened? Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Lines․"
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 AwardWinner
- 1984Hochi Film Award - Best Foreign Language Film:Winner
- 1986Grand PrizeNominated
- 1988Truly Moving Picture AwardWinner
- 1988KCFCC Award - Best Director:Winner
- 1989Oscar - Best Director:Winner
- 1989Amanda - Best Foreign Feature Film (Årets utenlandske spillefilm):Nominated
- 1989Reader Jury of the "Berliner Morgenpost"Winner
- 1989Golden Berlin Bear - Best Film: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 Director:Nominated
- 1992Oscar - Best Picture:Nominated
- 1992Golden Berlin BearNominated
- 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 BearNominated
- 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
- 1997PGA Award - Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television:Nominated
- 1998Golden Berlin Bear - Best Film:Nominated
- 1998Silver Berlin Bear - Special Jury Prize:Winner
- 1998OFTA Film Award - Best Comedy/Musical Picture:Nominated
- 1998PGA Award - Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television:Nominated
- 2010IDA Award - Continuing Series:Winner
- 2010OFTA Television Award - Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries:Nominated
- 2010Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Made for Television Movie:Nominated
- 2010Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: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 Television Movie:Nominated
- 2018Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special: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