Bruce Vilanch
Biography
Bruce Vilanch is an American actor, comedy writer, and songwriter who began his entertainment career writing features for the Chicago Tribune and later wrote comedy material for Bette Midler, including Clams on the Half Shell, her 1974 Broadway show, and Divine Madness in 1980. Born in New York City, he was raised in Paterson, New Jersey, and he also co-wrote television fare including The Brady Bunch Hour, The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, and the Star Wars Holiday Special. For four years he was head writer and a celebrity square on Hollywood Squares. He contributed to the Oscars telecasts from 1989 to 2014 and took over as head writer in 2000. His acting work includes his feature debut in Mahogany (1975), Breathless (1983), and The Ice Pirates (1984), and in 2005 he played Edna Turnblad on Broadway in Hairspray. He has won two Emmys for his Oscar writing and four more for Outstanding Variety Show.
77years old
Turns 78 on November 23in 42 days
- Born New York City
- Star sign: SagittariusThe sign runs November 22 to December 21
- Also credited as Bruce Gerald Vilanch
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 48 years1975 to 2023
Genres
- Comedy50%, 6 films
- Romance33%, 4 films
- Action17%, 2 films
- Documentary17%, 2 films
- Drama17%, 2 films
First and latest
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Behind the camera
Vilanch wrote the lyrics to "You Made Me Watch You," the farewell song Bette Midler sang to Johnny Carson the night before his final Tonight Show, and the song later won an Emmy.
Behind the camera
Vilanch worked with Fred Zarr and Jacques Morali on "Where Is My Man," which Eartha Kitt made popular in 1983. The same trio also wrote "Sex Over the Phone," a minor hit for the Village People.
A change of course
Vilanch started his entertainment career writing features for the Chicago Tribune, and while covering celebrities he got to know Bette Midler, then a struggling nightclub singer, for whom he later wrote comedy material.
Bruce Vilanch movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Worked with
Bruce Vilanch shares two films with Lee Meriwether, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Lee Meriwether's page
Chita Rivera's page
Jeff Bennett's page
John Carradine's page
Ron Perlman's page
Kevin Michael Richardson's page
Stewart RaffillDirector, 1 film, 1984
All films by Stewart Raffill
All films by Jim McBride
All films by Sidney Lumet
Awards
Two awards and honors, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| Emmy Award | Won | ||
| Other honors | |||
| 1997 | GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.