Marshall Brickman, the Oscar-winning screenwriter known for his collaborations with Woody Allen, has passed away at the age of 85. His daughter, Sophie Brickman, confirmed that he died on Friday in Manhattan, though the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Brickman’s career spanned a variety of projects, but he is best remembered for his work alongside Allen, beginning with the 1973 film Sleeper. He co-wrote several of Allen’s iconic films, including Annie Hall (1977), Manhattan (1979), and Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993). The script for Annie Hall, in particular, is celebrated for its sharp wit and was awarded an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Brickman accepted the Oscar on behalf of the team, as Allen did not attend the ceremony. In his speech, Brickman humorously referenced one of the film’s famous lines, saying, “I’ve been out here a week, and I still have guilt when I make a right turn on a red light.”
In addition to his work with Allen, Brickman also contributed to the Broadway musical Jersey Boys and wrote several memorable sketches for Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show.
Marshall Brickman once shared with Vanity Fair in 2017 that if a film is successful, it captures a unique snapshot of life in a particular time and place. In his case, he believed his work, particularly with Woody Allen, provided a distinct portrayal of what it was like to live in New York during a specific social and economic era.
Brickman and Allen first crossed paths in the early 1960s when Allen was rising as a stand-up comedian. Brickman was hired to write jokes for him while also playing banjo in the folk group the Tarriers. Interestingly, it was an album Brickman recorded with his college roommate, Eric Weissberg, that ended up featuring the famous song “Dueling Banjos” on the soundtrack of the 1972 film Deliverance.
Born in Rio de Janeiro to Jewish socialist parents—his father, Abram, had fled Poland during WWII, while his mother, Pauline, was from New York—Brickman grew up in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in science and music. His entry into the entertainment world began when he replaced Alan Arkin in the folk group the Tarriers.
Marshall Brickman once explained in a 2011 interview with the Writers Guild that he was asked to join the Tarriers, a folk group, because they needed someone to engage the audience while the band was tuning up. This led him to develop jokes and routines, which marked the beginning of his comedic career.
By the late 1960s, Brickman became the head writer for Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show, where he created some of the show’s most memorable sketches, including the “Carnac the Magnificent” routines. In these, Carson played a mystic who could magically divine answers to hidden questions. Brickman also contributed to other iconic TV shows such as Candid Camera, The Dick Cavett Show, and The Muppet Show.
When Brickman began collaborating with Woody Allen, the two developed a strong working relationship. Brickman took a supportive role, complementing Allen’s semi-autobiographical material. Reflecting on their partnership, Brickman said in a 2011 interview that true collaboration doesn’t mean equal participation from both sides. Instead, he believed one person’s personality and perspective must dominate in order for the collaboration to succeed.
Marshall Brickman wrote and directed the 1980 film Simon, in which Alan Arkin played a psychology professor who is brainwashed into believing he’s an alien. He also directed Lovesick (1983), starring Alec Guinness as the ghost of Sigmund Freud, and The Manhattan Project (1986), which tells the story of a high school student who builds a nuclear bomb for a class project.
In addition to his film work, Brickman made a significant contribution to Broadway. He co-wrote the musical Jersey Boys (with Rick Elice writing the music), which tells the story of the 1960s rock group The Four Seasons. The show ran on Broadway for 12 years starting in 2005. The duo also collaborated on The Addams Family musical, which debuted in 2010.
Brickman is survived by his wife, Nina, his daughters Sophie and Jessica, and five grandchildren.