Happy 88th Birthday, Elaine May! Born today in 1932 as Elaine Iva May, this American comedienne, actress, screenwriter and film director had made her initial impact in the 1950s.
This was from her improvisational comedy routines with American film and theater director, producer, actor, and comedian Mike Nichols ('Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', 'The Graduate') performing as Nichols and May.
They both performed nightly to mostly sold-out shows, in addition to making television appearances and radio broadcasts.
In their comedy act, they created satirical clichés and character types which made fun of the new intellectual, cultural, and social order that was just emerging at the time.
In doing so, May was instrumental in removing the stereotype of women being unable to succeed at live comedy. Together, they became an inspiration to many younger comedians, including Lily Tomlin and Steve Martin.
After four years, at the height of their fame, Nichols and may decided to discontinue their act. Afterwards, May subsequently developed a career as a screenwriter and director.
Woody Allen once declared, “the two of them came along and elevated comedy to a brand-new level". American journalist and author from San Francisco Gerald Nachman noted that "Nichols and May are perhaps the most ardently missed of all the satirical comedians of their era."
May is celebrated for the string of films she directed in the 1970s. This included her 1971 American black comedy/romance film 'A New Leaf', in which she also starred.
Others included the 1972 American dark romantic comedy film 'The Heartbreak Kid' and her gritty 1976 American gangster drama/independent film 'Mikey and Nicky'.
The latter film starred American actor, film director, and screenwriter John Cassavetes ('Shadows', 'Faces', 'A Woman Under the Influence', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie') and Peter Falk.
The latter film starred American actor, film director, and screenwriter John Cassavetes ('Shadows', 'Faces', 'A Woman Under the Influence', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie') and Peter Falk.
Of these, May is best known for directing 'The Heartbreak Kid'. Soon after the nebbish Lenny Cantrow (Charles Grodin) marries Lila Kolodny (Jeannie Berlin), the needy and unrefined side of her personality begins to emerge, and he becomes increasingly uncertain about his decision to marry her.
During their honeymoon in Miami, Lenny meets beautiful and sophisticated Kelly Corcoran (Cybill Shepherd). Every chance he gets, Lenny sneaks away from Lila to be with Kelly, and the more he gets to know her, the more he falls in love. However, problems arise when the two women learn about each another.
The following year, American film, television and stage actress and screenwriter Jeannie Berlin was nominated an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
Eddie Albert (Mr. Corcoran) was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Both nominations occurred at the 45th Academy Awards in late March the following year.
'The Heartbreak Kid' ranks at #91 on AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs, a list of the funniest American movies ever made.
The film was based on American novelist, screenwriter, playwright, and actor Bruce Jay Friedman's 1966 short story A Change of Plan and written for the screen by American playwright, screenwriter and author Neil Simon.
In the mid-1990s, May reunited with Nichols to write the screenplay for the 1996 American comedy/LGBT film 'The Birdcage', directed by Nichols.
Three years later, May became partners with American film director and choreographer Stanley Donen (‘On the Town’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’). They would remain together until Donen’s passing on February 21, 2019.
In the following decade, May co-starred in Woody Allen's 2000 American comedy/independent film 'Small Time Crooks' as May.
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Three years later, May became partners with American film director and choreographer Stanley Donen (‘On the Town’, ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’). They would remain together until Donen’s passing on February 21, 2019.
In the following decade, May co-starred in Woody Allen's 2000 American comedy/independent film 'Small Time Crooks' as May.
In the late 2000s, 'The Heartbreak Kid' was remade by the Farrelly brothers ('There's Something About Mary') into the eponymous 2007 American black comedy/romance film. It starred Ben Stiller and Malin Akerman.
In 2018, May returned to Broadway after a sixty-year absence in American theatre director, writer and artistic director Lila Neugebauer's revival of American film director, playwright, and screenwriter Kenneth Lonergan's ('Manchester by the Sea') play The Waverly Gallery.
The play ran at the John Golden Theatre, the same theatre where Nichols and May started their comedy routine almost six decades ago.
The play ran at the John Golden Theatre, the same theatre where Nichols and May started their comedy routine almost six decades ago.
For her performance, May received rapturous reviews for her performance, and won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. She then became the second oldest performer to have won a Tony Award for acting.
May has been active from 1955–2000, 2016–present.
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