Neil Simon Biography

(Playwright & Screenwriter)

Birthday: July 4, 1927 (Cancer)

Born In: The Bronx, New York

Advanced SearchNeil Simon was an American playwright and screenwriter. He hasdwritten around thirty plays and same number of movie scripts that have been mainly adapted from his stage writing. He was the writer with most number of Academy Award and Tony Award nominations. Simon started out by writing for television and wrote for successful TV shows like, ‘The Phil Slivers Show’ and ‘Your Shows of Shows’ - his writing received acknowledgement through Emmy Awards. This initial success encouraged him to write his own creative piece and after working on it for three years, he came out with his successful Broadway ‘Come Blow your Horn’ in the early 1960s. There was no looking back for him after it and he wrote more plays and screen scripts. His writing career was so booming that one season he had four successful plays showing on Broadway at the same time and he became the only living playwright who has a theatre named after him - Neil Simon Theatre in New York. Simon’s work ranges from romantic comedy to farce to more serious dramatic comedy. He touched topics like marital conflict, infidelity, sibling rivalry, adolescence, fear of aging, etc. with his writing. Most of his inspiration comes from the source of his unhappy and tormenting childhood, where he faced poverty and volatile marriage of his parents. Writing for him was always a source of emotional stability, a technique he imbibed as a child when he used to take solace in the comedy movies of Charlie Chaplin. Quick Facts

Nick Name: Doc

Also Known As: Marvin Neil Simon

Died At Age: 91

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Elaine Joyce (m. 1999), Diane Lander (m. 1990–1998), Joan Baim (m. 1953–1973), Marsha Mason (m. 1973–1981)

father: Irving Simon

mother: Mamie Simon

siblings: Danny Simon

children: Bryn Simon, Ellen Simon, Nancy Simon

Quotes By Neil Simon Playwrights

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

Died on: August 26, 2018

Diseases & Disabilities: Alzheimer's

U.S. State: New Yorkers

More Facts

education: New York University, University of Denver

awards: 1991 - Pulitzer Prize for Drama
2006 - Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
1965 - Tony Award for Best Play

1965 - Tony Award for Best Author
1978 - Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
1995 - Kennedy Center Honor
1996 - Helmerich Award
1969 - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Comedy
1970 - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written Comedy
1972 Writers Guild of America Award The Trouble With People
- David di Donatello Special Award
1971 - Writers Guild of America Award for Best Original Comedy
1957 Emmy Award for Your Show of Shows
1959 Emmy Award for The Phil Silvers Show
1967 Evening Standard Award – Barefoot in the Park
1968 Sam S. Shubert Award – Sweet Charity
1972 Cue Entertainer of the Year Award
1975 Special Tony Award for contribution to theatre
1975 Writers Guild of America Award The Goodbye Girl
1978 Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay – The Goodbye Girl
1979 Writers Guild of America Award Laurel Award
1981 Doctor of Humane Letters from Hofstra University
1983 American Theatre Hall of Fame
1983 New York Drama Critics Circle Award – Brighton Beach Memoirs
1983 Outer Critics Circle Award – Brighton Beach Memoirs
1986 New York State Governor's Award
1989 American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement
1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding New Play – Lost in Yonkers
1995 Kennedy Center Honoree
1996 William Inge Theatre Festival Distinguished Achievement in the American Theater

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American CelebritiesScreenplay WritersAmerican MenNew York UniversityTall Celebrities Childhood & Early LifeNeil Simon was born in The Bronx, New York, to Irving Simon and Mamie Simon. His father was a garment salesman while mother a homemaker. He grew up in Washington Heights with his older brother, Danny Simon.Most of Simon’s childhood was spent struggling with the Great Depression and his parents’ difficult marriage - his father deserted the family from time to time. To cope with difficulties of his childhood, he took comfort in comedy and writing.He attended the DeWitt Clinton High School and after clearing the school he joined the Army Air Force Reserve at New York University. He started writing professionally during these years. In 1946, he attended the University of Denver.Quotes: Life, Love, Living, IContinue Reading BelowRecommended Lists:Tall Male CelebritiesMale WritersCancer WritersAmerican WritersCareerAfter getting discharged from the army and completion of his graduation from the university, Simon took up a job as a mailroom clerk for Warner Brother’s East Coast Office, Manhattan.A few years later, he quit his job and joined his brother in writing for radio and television. They struggled alongside Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, etc. and wrote for shows like, ‘The Phil Slivers Show’ and ‘Your Show of Shows’.Simon was nominated for Emmy several times for his TV writing, which inspired him to move to theatre and in 1961, his first Broadway, ‘Come Blow Your Horn’ was released at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. It ran for 678 performances.Soon Simon was known as the ‘hottest new playwright on Broadway’ and he released more productions––‘Barefoot in the Park (1963), ‘The Old Couple (1965)’, ‘Plaza Suite (1968)’, ‘The Gingerbread Lady (1970)’, ‘The Good Doctor (1973)’, ‘Chapter Two (1977)’, etc.Although his plays were smash hits and audiences loved the elements he touched with his writing like satire, romance, family clashes, difficult marriages etc. but the critics continued to detest him and called him a mere ‘writer of gags’.Simon went through a low period and faced failures with ‘The Good Doctor (1973)’ and ‘God’s Favorite (1976)’. Although, when he moved to California, his writing revived and he produced classics like, ‘California Suite (1978)’ and ‘Chapter Two (1979)’.By this time, he had entered into movies and wrote screenplays for at least 20 movies. Although it did not interest him much as his love for theatre writing was way greater.Even so, when his plays were offered to be turned into movies by producers, Simon took the charge of converting them into screenplays himself so as to control the quality of the product.Some of his writings adapted for movies and television are: ‘The Heartbreak Kid (1972)’, ‘Seems Like Old Times (1980)’, ‘Max Dugan Returns (1983)’, ‘The Slugger’s Wife (1985)’, ‘The Sunshine Boys (1995)’, ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor (2001)’, etc.Continue Reading BelowQuotes: NeverRecommended Lists:American PlaywrightsAmerican Screenplay WritersCancer MenMajor WorksAlthough Simon actively wrote for television, movies and theatre but his contribution as a playwright is considered to be most prominent. He wrote award winning Broadways like, ‘The Old Couple (1965)’, ‘Lost in Yonkers (1991)’.Personal Life & LegacySimon was married five times. These included to dancer Joan Baim (1953-73), actress Marsha Mason (1973-1981), twice to Diane Lander (1987-1988 and 1990-1998) and actress Elaine Joyce (1999-present).He had three children: Nancy and Ellen (from his first marriage) and Bryn who is Diane Lander’s daughter from her previous marriage, whom he adopted.He died of pneumonia on 26 August 2018 at the age of 91. He was also reported to have had Alzheimer’s disease.TriviaHe was on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service.Simon received several academic honors like: Doctor of Humane Letters from Hofstra University and a Doctor of Laws from Williams College.He was the only living playwright to have a New York theatre named after him - Neil Simon Theatre. He was an honorary member of the Walnut Street Theatre's board of trustees.He had received four Academy Award nominations for his screenplays.