Marshall Brickman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind some of Woody Allen's most iconic films and the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys, has passed away at the age of 85. His daughter, Sophie Brickman, confirmed the news, revealing that he died on Friday in Manhattan. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Brickman’s legacy is marked by a diverse and remarkable career that spanned film, television, and Broadway. He is perhaps best known for his prolific collaboration with Woody Allen, beginning in the early 1970s. Their partnership yielded some of Allen's most acclaimed works, including the 1977 classic Annie Hall, the 1979 film Manhattan, and the 1993 Manhattan Murder Mystery. It was Annie Hall, with its witty dialogue and groundbreaking structure, that earned Brickman and Allen the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
In his acceptance speech for the Oscar, Brickman famously referenced one of Annie Hall’s most famous lines, quipping: "I’ve been out here a week, and I still have guilt when I make a right turn on a red light." He later described the film in an interview with Vanity Fair, saying, “If the film is worth anything, it gives a very particular specific image of what it was like to be alive in New York at that time in that particular social-economic stratum.”
Brickman and Allen first met in the early 1960s, when Allen was starting out as a stand-up comedian. At that time, Brickman had been playing banjo for the folk group the Tarriers, which, in a remarkable twist, later recorded the famous "Dueling Banjos" track that would become synonymous with the 1972 film Deliverance. His writing skills, however, would ultimately define his career. Brickman transitioned to writing jokes for Allen, eventually becoming a key collaborator on the films that would define Allen's filmmaking style.
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Jewish socialist parents, Brickman grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He had a varied academic background, earning degrees in science and music from the University of Wisconsin. His early career in show business began with the Tarriers, and by the late 1960s, he had become head writer for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. One of his standout contributions during this time was the "Carnac the Magnificent" sketches, in which Carson portrayed a mystic who could divine answers to unseen questions.
Brickman’s career in television also included stints on Candid Camera, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Muppet Show, among others. He was known for his sharp wit and his ability to create memorable comedic moments across a variety of formats.
Beyond film and television, Brickman’s talents extended to the stage. In 2005, he co-wrote the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, based on the story of The Four Seasons, which became a massive success, running for over a decade. Along with Rick Elice, he also co-wrote the 2010 musical The Addams Family, further solidifying his versatility as a writer.
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