Marshall Brickman, the writer and director known for co-writing some of Woody Allen‘s earlier works, has died. He was 85.
The Oscar winner’s daughter Sophie Brickman announced that her father died Friday in Manhattan, following more than 50 years of writing, directing and producing for the stage and screen.
A cause of death was not provided, according to The New York Times.
After teaming up with Allen on the 1973 sci-fi comedy Sleeper, they co-wrote the hit satirical romantic-comedy Annie Hall together, earning both men an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The duo also collaborated on Allen’s 1979 followup Manhattan, which earned them another screenplay nomination. They teamed again on the 1993 dark comedy Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Born Aug. 25, 1939 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brickman studied science and music with plans to become a doctor. After joining folk band The Tarriers in 1962, recording a banjo album that would later become the soundtrack for Deliverance (1972), Brickman joined the New Journeyman with John and Michelle Phillips, who would go on to start The Mamas & The Papas.
THE 50TH ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS – Show Coverage – Shoot Date: April 3, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
MARSHALL BRICKMAN
Brickman began writing for Candid Camera, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Dick Cavett Show before meeting Allen.
As a writer and director, Brickman helmed Simon (1980) with Alan Arkin, Lovesick (1983) with Dudley Moore and Elizabeth Govern, and The Manhattan Project (1986) with John Lithgow.
Long before writing For the Boys (1991) and Intersection (1994), Brickman co-wrote the pilot for The Muppet Show: Sex and Violence, which ultimately become The Muppet Show (1976-’81). He also wrote the books for Broadway musicals Jersey Boys (2005) and The Addams Family (2010), in addition to re-teaming with partner Rick Elice for director Clint Eastwood’s 2014 movie musical adaptation of the former.
