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Paul Mazursky Biography

Birth Name:Irwin Lawrence Mazursky

Birth Place:New York City, New York, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Earned Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award in 2000
Served on the board of directors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Graduated from Brooklyn College at the age of 21 before pursuing a full-time career in show business
Quote: "I find it impossible to spend much time with someone who doesn't have a real sense of humor․ Humor is not just a way of looking at life․ It's the way you experience things․ Nobody lives life free of pain, but you can get past the pain with humor․ It's what separates me from some very nice people who simply don't get the joke․"
After starting out as an extra in numerous films during the 1950s, he would begin writing with "The Danny Kaye Show" in 1963 before teaming up with Larry Tucker in 1965 to pen the pilot script for "The Monkees" NBC series
He would make his directorial debut in 1968 with "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice", later helming other critically acclaimed titles such as "Harry and Tonto" and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"
Published his autobiography, "Show Me the Magic", in 1999

Awards

1964Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy or Variety: nominated
1966Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety: nominated
1969NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1969WGA Award (Screen)-Best Written American Original Screenplay: nominated
1969WGA Award (Screen)-Best Written American Comedy: nominated
1970Oscar-Best Writing, Story and Screenplay Based on Material Not Previously Published or Produced: nominated
1970NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1970NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1970WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: winner
1971BAFTA Film Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1974WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1975Oscar-Best Writing, Original Screenplay: nominated
1975WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1976Palme d'Or-: nominated
1976Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: winner
1976NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: nominated
1977WGA Award (Screen)-Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1978Palme d'Or-: nominated
1978LAFCA Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1978NSFC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1978NYFCC Award-Best Director: nominated
1978NYFCC Award-Best Screenplay: winner
1979Oscar-Best Picture: nominated
1979Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1979Bodil-Best Non-European Film (Bedste ikke-europæiske film): winner
1979DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1979Golden Globe-Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: nominated
1979Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: nominated
1979WGA Award (Screen)-Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen: nominated
1982People's Choice Award-: winner
1982Golden Lion-: nominated
1987WGA Award (Screen)-Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1989NYFCC Award-Best Director: winner
1990Oscar-Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium: nominated
1990NSFC Award-Best Director: nominated
1996Golden Berlin Bear-: nominated
1999OFTA Television Award-Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1999Certificate of Merit-Television - Drama-Television Feature: winner