Woody Allen (b.1935,) born Allen Stewart Konigsberg, legally Heywood Allen, is an American film director, writer, actor, and occasional jazz clarinetist. Allen is one of America’s most prominent filmmakers—his very personal films humorously explore themes that have always obsessed him: neurosis, sexual inadequacy, death, and the meaning of life. He once stated that his one regret in life is that he is not someone else.
Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Allen got expelled from both New York University and City College. He turned to a professional writing career, at first for television and for comedians. In 1964, he decided to become a stand-up comedian himself. Performing in clubs and on television, he developed the persona of a neurotic eccentric in a sophisticated world. He made his film debut scripting and acting in the popular What’s New, Pussycat? (1965.)
Allen’s own movie projects were vehicles for his stand-up routines: Take the Money and Run (1969,) Bananas (1971,) Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Sex … But Were Afraid to Ask (1972,) Sleeper (1973,) and Love and Death (1975.)
Allen gained distinction with Annie Hall (1977,) which won Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Script, and Best Picture, and Manhattan (1979.) His subsequent films include Stardust Memories (1980,) Broadway Danny Rose (1984,) Hannah and Her Sisters (1986,) Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989,) Alice (1990,) Bullets over Broadway (1994,) Mighty Aphrodite (1995,) Everyone Says I love You (1996,) and Midnight in Paris (2011.)
Allen’s celebrity extended to his off-screen life as well. He has been married two times previously, and had romantic relationships with actresses Stacey Nelkin, Diane Keaton, and Mia Farrow. In 1992, reports emerged that the 57-year-old Allen was having an affair with Farrow’s 21-year-old adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn—she became Allen’s third and current wife.
Allen’s notable works include Getting Even (1971,) The Complete Prose of Woody Allen (1992,) and Insanity Defense (2007.)
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I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work; I want to achieve immortality through not dying. I don’t want to live on in the hearts of my countrymen; I want to live on in my apartment.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Achievement, Accomplishment, Fame
Eighty percent of success is showing up.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Success, Procrastination, Getting Going, Inaction, Success & Failure
In perpetrating a revolution, there are two requirements: someone or something to revolt against and someone to actually show up and do the revolting. Dress is usually casual and both parties may be flexible about time and place, but if either faction fails to attend, the whole enterprise is likely to come off badly.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Revolution
If it weren’t for problems, the work day would be over by 10 a.m.
—Woody Allen
It seemed the world was divided into good and bad people. The good ones slept better… while the bad ones seemed to enjoy the waking hours much more.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Sleep, Goodness
The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don’t have.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Gratitude, Blessings, Appreciation, Talent
The people who successfully delude themselves seem happier than the people who can’t.
—Woody Allen
The lion and the calf will lay down together, but the calf won’t get much sleep..
—Woody Allen
Topics: Marriage
It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Death, Dying
Showing up is 80 percent of life.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Time Management, Value of Time
If you’re not failing, you’re not trying anything.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Failures, Mistakes
What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet.
—Woody Allen
Topics: Expectation, Disillusion
Life doesn’t imitate art, it imitates bad television.
—Woody Allen
Summing up, it is clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and get back home by six o’clock.
—Woody Allen
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