Marshall Brickman was a screenwriter best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Woody Allen, most notably the Best Picture-winning classic, 1977’s “Annie Hall,” for which the pair won an Oscar.
- Died: November 29, 2024 (Who else died on November 29?)
- Details of death: Died in Manhattan at the age of 85.
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Marshall Brickman’s legacy
The fact that Brickman co-wrote the 1977 classic “Annie Hall” alongside director Woody Allen – earning an Academy Award in the process and helping create the film that beat “Star Wars” for the Best Picture Oscar that year – would alone earn him a place in Hollywood history. His story, however, is far more varied than one iconic movie.
Born in Brazil, before he worked in writing, Brickman was a musician who played banjo. In the 1960s, he played with the folk group The Tarriers. Just over 10 years later, their album was licensed and released as the soundtrack to the 1972 thriller “Deliverance.” That LP included “Dueling Banjos,” on which Brickman played, which is featured prominently in the film. The song is considered a cult classic.
After The Tarriers, he joined another group, The New Journeymen, with musicians John Phillips (1935–2001) and his wife, Michelle Phillips. When Brickman moved on, the couple recruited two new band members, Cass Elliot (1941–1974) and Denny Doherty (1940–2007), and changed their name to the Mamas & the Papas.
Brickman left music behind and went into television writing, doing work for shows like “Candid Camera” and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” where he served as head writer. He later met Allen, and the pair collaborated on Allen’s 1973 film, “Sleeper,” following that with “Annie Hall.” They wrote a third movie together that is also widely considered a classic: 1979’s “Manhattan,” for which the team was again nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar. Their final collaboration was the 1993 release, “Manhattan Murder Mystery.”
Brickman shared a Hugo Award with Allen in 1974 for “Sleeper,” and their “Annie Hall” and “Manhattan” also won BAFTAs, among other honors. He was also a director, both writing and directing a trio of movies in the 1980s: the comedy “Simon,” the Dudley Moore (1935–2002) film “Lovesick,” and the science fiction cult classic “The Manhattan Project.”
Notable quote
“My life is no example of how to plan a creative life whatsoever. My only philosophy is that I pick projects where I don’t mind having lunch with the people.” — interview with The Guardian, 2021
Tributes to Marshall Brickman
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
