Woody Allen

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Lore & Background

Allen began his career writing jokes at 15, and by 19 he was part of the NBC Writer's Development Program, later writing for Sid Caesar specials, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show. He wrote humor pieces for The New Yorker and Broadway plays such as Don't Drink the Water (1966) and Play It Again, Sam (1969). Transitioning to stand-up in Greenwich Village, he developed a monologue style and the persona of an insecure, intellectual, fretful nebbish. He released three comedy albums, earning a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album nomination for Woody Allen (1964), and published short story collections Getting Even (1971), Without Feathers (1975), and Side Effects (1980). After writing, directing, and starring in slapstick comedies like Take the Money and Run (1969), Bananas (1971), Sleeper (1973), and Love and Death (1975), Allen directed his seminal work Annie Hall (1977), which won four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay for Allen, and Best Actress for Diane Keaton. He has since directed many films set in New York City, including Manhattan (1979), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989). From 1980 to 1992, he had a professional and personal relationship with actress Mia Farrow, collaborating on 13 films. The couple separated after Allen began a relationship in 1991 with Farrow's and Andre Previn's 21-year-old adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn. In 1992, Farrow publicly accused Allen of sexually abusing their adopted daughter, Dylan; Allen denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, but the accusation received substantial media attention. Allen married Previn in 1997 and they have adopted two children.

Reader's Guide

Woody Allen is a central figure in American cinema, particularly as a prominent director of the New Hollywood era of auteur filmmakers. His record of three wins and sixteen nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay underscores his influence as a writer. His films, often set in New York City, blend comedy, drama, and intellectual introspection, with works like Annie Hall and Manhattan becoming cultural touchstones. Beyond film, his contributions to stand-up comedy, television writing, and literature have cemented his reputation as a versatile humorist. However, his legacy is complicated by the 1992 accusation of sexual abuse, which he denied and for which he was never charged, but which has led to significant public debate and scrutiny. His career, spanning more than seven decades, includes numerous honors such as an Honorary Golden Lion, BAFTA Fellowship, Honorary Palme d'Or, and the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, reflecting both his artistic achievements and the enduring controversy surrounding his personal life.

Did You Know?

• Allen holds the record for most wins (3) and nominations (16) for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
• He began writing short jokes at age 15 and by 19 was earning $1,500 a week writing for Sid Caesar.
• Allen's first published joke read: 'Woody Allen says he ate at a restaurant that had O.P.S. prices—over people's salaries.'
• He dropped out of New York University after failing the course 'Motion Picture Production'.
• Allen released an audiobook, The Woody Allen Collection, in 2010, reading 73 selections, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album.