Biography
As one of the premiere writers to have worked on the small screen, Larry Gelbart was responsible for creating some of the finest television in history. After getting his start writing for Danny Thomas' radio show, Gelbart was at the forefront of the Golden Age of television, writing for such programs as "The Red Buttons Show" (CBS/NBC, 1952-55), "Caesar's Hour" (NBC, 1954-57) and "The Art Carney Show" (NBC, 1959). Having honed his chops among …
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Career Milestones
| Screen tested by Twentieth Century Fox; did not pass the audition process | ||
| Through his father (who was Danny Thomas' barber), landed first writing job on the radio show, "Maxwell House Coffee Time with Danny Thomas" | ||
| Was a gag writer for "The Bob Hope Show" on the radio | ||
1946 | Served in the US Army | |
1946 | Wrote for the radio show, "Duffy's Tavern" | |
1950 | Produced first play, "My L.A." | |
1952 | Was a staff writer on NBC's "The All-Star Revue" | |
1952 | Wrote for "The Red Buttons Show" (CBS, 1952-54; NBC, 1954-55) | |
1954 | Teamed with Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Neil Simon and Mel Tolkin to write for NBC's "Caesar's Hour" starring Sid Caesar | |
1959 | Co-wrote for the NBC variety special, "The Art Carney Show" | |
1960 | Penned the libretto for the musical, "The Conquering Hero"; show closed after seven performances | |
1962 | Co-wrote with Burt Shevelove, the book for the stage musical, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" | |
1962 | Wrote first film, "The Notorious Landlady" | |
1963 | Penned the variety special "Judy and Her Guests, Phil Silvers and Robert Goulet" | |
1963 | Was a writer for the CBS series, "The Danny Kaye Show" | |
1966 | Produced first feature, "The Wrong Box"; also wrote screenplay | |
1969 | Co-wrote "A Fine Pair"; last fim for eight years | |
1972 | One of the creators of CBS' "M*A*S*H"; also wrote, produced and directed many episodes until leaving after the fourth season | |
1973 | Co-wrote the award-winning variety special, "Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments" (CBS) | |
1973 | Produced and wrote several episodes of the CBS sitcom, "Roll Out!" | |
1975 | Executive produced and wrote episodes of the ABC sitcom, "Karen" starring Karen Valentine | |
1976 | Returned to Broadway as the playwright of "Sly Fox" starring George C. Scott (and later Jackie Gleason) | |
1977 | Earned first Academy Award nomination for his script, "Oh, God!" | |
1978 | Contributed to the script of "Movie Movie"; directed by Stanley Donen | |
1980 | Scripted the TV series, "United States" (NBC) | |
1980 | Took his name off the final version of "Rough Cut" (billed as Francis Burns) | |
1982 | Shared a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for "Tootsie" | |
1983 | Wrote and directed episodes of the CBS series, "AfterMASH" | |
1984 | Wrote last feature for over a decade, "Blame It on Rio"; directed by Stanley Donen | |
1989 | Scored a success with the Broadway musical, "City of Angeles" | |
1989 | Wrote the play, "Mastergate," a satire on the Iran-Contra hearings; opened and closed on Broadway after just 68 performances | |
1992 | Adapted his play "Mastergate" for Showtime | |
1993 | Wrote the TV adaptation of "Barbarians at the Gate" (HBO) | |
1997 | Executive produced and wrote the TV-movie, "Weapons of Mass Distraction" (HBO) | |
1997 | Served as executive producer of the Showtime series, "Fast Track" | |
2000 | Contributed to the script for the remake of "Bedazzled" | |
2000 | Penned 26 five-minute episodes for a politically-themed Internet comedy | |
2002 | Had adaptation of "Lysistrata" (with music by Alan Menken) cancelled by the American Repertory Theater for being "ferociously obscene" | |
2002 | Writer for the screen adaption of the musical, "Chicago" | |
2003 | Executive producer and writer for the HBO special, "And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself" | |
Awards
1956 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Comedy Writing in Caesar's Hour |
1957 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Comedy Writing-Variety or Situation Comedy in Caesar's Hour |
1959 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Writing of a Single Musical or Variety Program in The Sid Caesar Show |
1963 | Tony Award for Author (Musical) |
1963 | Tony Award for Musical |
1964 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy or Variety in The Danny Kaye Show |
1973 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement In Comedy in M*A*S*H |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Best Writing In Comedy-Variety, Variety or Music in Barbra Streisand and Other Musical Instruments |
1974 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in M*A*S*H |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in M*A*S*H |
1976 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in M*A*S*H |
1976 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Comedy Series in M*A*S*H |
1977 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay--Based On Material From Another Medium) in Oh, God! |
1982 | Academy Award for Writing (Screenplay Written Directly For the Screen) in Tootsie |
1982 | Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in Tootsie |
1982 | Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in Tootsie |
1982 | Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay in Tootsie |
1982 | National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay in Tootsie |
1982 | New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay in Tootsie |
1983 | BAFTA Award for Adapted Screenplay in Tootsie |
1984 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing In a Comedy Series in AfterMASH |
1990 | Tony Award for Book (Musical) |
1993 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement In Writing In a Miniseries or a Special in Barbarians At the Gate |
1997 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing For a Miniseries or a Special in Weapons of Mass Distraction |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Made For Television Movie in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself |
2004 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special in And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself |