Elaine May
Biography
Elaine May is an American writer, director, actress, and comedian who began in improvisational theater in Chicago and first gained fame through her comedy partnership with Mike Nichols. Born in Philadelphia, she performed as a child in her father's Yiddish theater troupe and was a founding member of the Compass Players in 1955. She and Nichols formed their stage act in 1957; their television, radio, and club work led to four Grammy nominations and a Best Comedy Album win in 1962. May directed A New Leaf (1971), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), Mikey and Nicky (1976), and Ishtar (1987), writing three of them, and acted in California Suite (1978) and Small Time Crooks (2000). She wrote screenplays for Heaven Can Wait, The Birdcage, and Primary Colors, with Heaven Can Wait and Primary Colors earning Oscar nominations and the latter a BAFTA Award. She won a Tony Award for The Waverly Gallery and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.
94years old
Turns 95 on April 21in 162 days
- Born Philadelphia
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
- Elaine Iva Berlin (birth name)Also credited as Elaine Iva May and Elaine Berlin
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 29 years1971 to 2000
Every film, newest first
- 2000Small Time CrooksIMDb rating 6.6
- 1978California SuiteIMDb rating 6.2
- 1971A New LeafIMDb rating 7.3
Genres
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A first
With her direction of the 1971 black screwball comedy A New Leaf, May was the first female director to hold a Hollywood deal since Ida Lupino.
Behind the camera
May worked without credit on the screenplay for Tootsie, the 1982 megahit. Her contributions included the scenes for the character Bill Murray played.
Elaine May movies on Netflix
Worked with
Elaine May shares two films with Walter Matthau, 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
Walter Matthau's page
Michael Caine's page
Jane Fonda's page
Maggie Smith's page
Hugh Grant's page
Woody Allen's page
Herbert RossDirector, 1 film, 1978
All films by Herbert Ross
Awards
Seven awards and honors from 1961 to 2022, three of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 2022 | Honorary Award | Honorary | |
| BAFTA | |||
| 1999 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Primary Colors | Won |
| Grammy Awards | |||
| 1961 | Best Comedy Album | An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1988 | Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director | Ishtar | Won |
| Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play | Won | ||
| National Medal of Arts | Won | ||
| Writers Guild of America Award | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.