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Irwin Lawrence " Paul" Mazursky (; April 25, 1930 – June 30, 2014) was an American film director, screenwriter, and actor. Known for his dramatic comedies that often dealt with modern social issues, he was nominated for five Academy Awards for Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Harry and Tonto (1974), An Unmarried Woman (1978), and Enemies, A Love Story (1989). He is also known for directing the autobiographical Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), Moscow on the Hudson (1984), Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986), Moon over Parador (1988), and Scenes from a Mall (1991).
Soon after starting his acting career, Mazursky became a writer on The Danny Kaye Show in 1963 with Larry Tucker, who he had met when Tucker went from managing comedians to being in the Los Angeles Second City troupe. In 1965, they crafted the script for the pilot of The Monkees television series, in which they both also appeared in cameos, although the pilot ended up being their only script for the series. Mazursky's debut as a film screenwriter was the Peter Sellers comedy I Love You, Alice B. Toklas (1968). The original intent was for Tucker to produce and for Mazursky to direct. Peter Sellers, the star of the film, instead picked Hy Averback to direct. The following year, he directed his first film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) which he also co-wrote with its producer Tucker, which proved to be a major critical and commercial success. The film was the fifth highest grossing of the year and earned Mazursky his first Oscar nomination.
His career behind the camera continued for two decades as he wrote and directed a prolific string of quirky, dramatic and critically popular films. His most successful films were contemporary dramatic comedies, including the Academy Award-winning Harry and Tonto (1974), the Best Picture-nominated An Unmarried Woman (1978), and popular hits such as Moscow on the Hudson (1984) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). In light of his comedies that tackled modern social subjects, The Hollywood Reporter stated that "from the late '60s through the '80s, he seemed to channel the zeitgeist..." and Variety stated that "his oeuvre smacks of cultural significance."
Other films made by Mazursky during this time include the Hollywood satire Alex in Wonderland (1970), the cutting Los Angeles relationship comedy Blume in Love (1973), and the semi-autobiographical coming-of-age story Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976). Mazursky played supporting roles in The Other Side of the Wind (1972; finished 2015) and A Star Is Born (1976). He also directed the 1980s New York City-based Jules and Jim homage Willie & Phil (1980), the contemporary Shakespeare comedy Tempest (1982), the Caribbean political farce Moon over Parador (1988), and the acclaimed Isaac Bashevis Singer adaptation Enemies, a Love Story (1989). Late in his life, Mazursky was developing a Broadway musical adaptation of his 1988 film Moon over Parador. He had supporting roles in History of the World Part I (1981), Into the Night (1985), Punchline (1988) and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989).
Mazursky appeared in supporting roles or cameos in most of his own films. In Moon over Parador (1988), with the Rio Opera House available for only three days of shooting, Mazursky cast himself as a dictator's mother when Judith Malina was unavailable, playing the character in drag. He also acted in 1990s in projects such as Man Trouble (1992), Carlito's Way (1993), Love Affair (1994), 2 Days in the Valley (1996), Miami Rhapsody (1995), Crazy in Alabama (1999), and I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006). He performed the voice of the Psychologist in Antz (1998). He experienced less success in the 1990s directing Scenes from a Mall (1991), starring Woody Allen and Bette Midler.
Following his filmmaking satire The Pickle (1993), which was his last writing credit, Mazursky worked only sporadically as a director on such films as Faithful (1996), Winchell (1998), and Coast to Coast (2003). His final film was the independent documentary film Yippee (2006). In later years, Mazursky had a small part as "Sunshine" the poker dealer in The Sopranos. He also appeared in five episodes of season 4 of Curb Your Enthusiasm as Mel Brooks' associate Norm, a role that he later reprised in a season 7 episode. In his autobiography Show Me the Magic (1999), Mazursky recounts his experiences in filmmaking and with several well-known screen personalities including Peter Sellers. He was the subject of the 2011 book Paul on Mazursky by Sam Wasson. Mazursky appeared as himself in a number of documentaries on film, including A Decade Under the Influence, New York at the Movies, and . From 2011 until his death in 2014, Mazursky served as a film critic for Vanity Fair.
Mazursky went into cardiopulmonary arrest and died on June 30, 2014, aged 84, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Acting credits
Acting credits
On February 1, 2014, at the WGA Awards, Mazursky received the Screen Laurel Award, which is the lifetime achievement award of the Writers Guild of America. Comedian, filmmaker and close friend Mel Brooks presented the award. In May 2014, Mazursky received the Best of Brooklyn Award at his alma mater Brooklyn College's annual gala in New York City. In 2015, Joe Swanberg's film Digging for Fire was dedicated in memory to Mazursky. In 2019, Greg Pritikin dedicated his film The Last Laugh to Mazursky.
Filmography
Film
1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas 1969 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice 1970 Alex in Wonderland 1973 Blume in Love 1974 Harry and Tonto 1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village 1978 An Unmarried Woman 1980 Willie & Phil 1982 Tempest 1984 Moscow on the Hudson 1986 Down and Out in Beverly Hills 1988 Moon over Parador 1989 Enemies, A Love Story 1991 Scenes from a Mall 1993 The Pickle 1996 Faithful 2006 Yippee 1953 Fear and Desire Pvt. Sidney 1955 Blackboard Jungle Emmanuel Stoker 1965 Deathwatch Maurice 1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas Hippie on Sidewalk Uncredited 1969 Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Man Screaming at the Institute Uncredited 1970 Alex in Wonderland Hal Stern 1972 The Other Side of the Wind Paul finished posthumously in 2018 1973 Blume in Love Kurt Hellman 1974 Harry and Tonto Prostitute Uncredited 1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Casting Director Uncredited A Star Is Born Brian Wexler 1978 An Unmarried Woman Hal 1979 A Man, a Woman, and a Bank Norman Barrie An Almost Perfect Affair Himself Uncredited 1981 Roman Officer (The Roman Empire) 1982 Tempest Terry Bloomfield Producer 1984 Moscow on the Hudson Dave 1985 Into the Night Bud Herman 1986 Down and Out in Beverly Hills Sidney Waxman 1988 Moon over Parador Momma Credited as Carlotta Gerson Punchline Arnold 1989 Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills Sidney Lipkin Enemies, a Love Story Leon Tortshiner 1991 Scenes from a Mall Dr. Hans Clava 1992 Man Trouble Lee MacGreevy 1993 The Pickle Butch Levine Carlito's Way Judge Feinstein 1994 Love Affair Herb Stillman 1995 Miami Rhapsody Vic Marcus 1996 Faithful Mr. Susskind 2 Days in the Valley Teddy Peppers 1997 Touch Artie 1998 Bulworth Himself Uncredited Why Do Fools Fall in Love Morris Levy Antz Psychologist Voice 1999 Crazy in Alabama Walter Schwegmann 2001 The Majestic Studio Executive Voice Big Shot's Funeral Studio Boss 2002 Do It for Uncle Manny Famous Movie Director 2006 I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With Charlie Perlman Cattle Call Judge Mandel 2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Musician Bunny Voice 2018 The Other Side of the Wind Himself (final film role)
Television
TV series
TV movies
1966 The Monkees T.V. Interviewer Episode "The Monkees" 1996 Frasier Vinnie Voice, Episode "The Last Time I Saw Maris" 1999–2002 Once and Again Phil Brooks 6 episodes 2000–2001 The Sopranos Sunshine 2 episodes 2003 Coast to Coast Stanley Tarto TV movie 2004–2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Norm 5 episodes 2011 Femme Fatales Warden Jeffries 2 episodes
Awards and honors
Mazursky received five Academy Award nominations, four for his screenplay writing on Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Harry and Tonto (1974), An Unmarried Woman (1978), and Enemies, a Love Story (1989), and once as producer of An Unmarried Woman (nominated for Best Picture). He was also twice nominated for a Golden Globe and twice for the Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or, among many other awards. In 2000, he was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award. In 2000, he was awarded the Amicus Poloniae (Latin: "Friend of Poland"), which is a distinction established by the Polish ambassador to the United States and conferred annually on citizens of the United States for special contributions to Polish-American relations. In 2010, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association honored him with an award for Career Achievement. On December 13, 2013, Mazursky was awarded the 2,515th star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in front of Musso & Frank Grill. Friends and collaborators Mel Brooks, Richard Dreyfuss, and Jeff Garlin were all present.
External links
Categories: 1930 Births, 2014 Deaths, 20th-century American Male Actors, 21st-century American Male Actors, American Atheists, American Male Film Actors, American Male Television Actors, American Male Stage Actors, American People Of Ukrainian-jewish Descent, Brooklyn College Alumni, Cas Filmmaker Award Honorees, Film Directors From New York City, Jewish American Atheists, Jewish American Male Actors, Jewish American Screenwriters, People From Brooklyn, Writers Guild Of America Award Winners, Pseudonymous Film Directors
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