Marshall Brickman wins Oscar for Annie Hall screenplay

Marshall Brickman, a prominent screenwriter, musician, and director, passed away at the age of 85. Born in Rio de Janeiro to leftist parents in 1939, he grew up in Brooklyn after his family returned to the United States in 1943. Brickman's early exposure to the Greenwich Village scene enabled him to learn folk music and become involved in the vibrant arts community of postwar America. His career began in music, recording an album and joining various folk groups before transitioning to writing jokes and sketches for television. Brickman collaborated with Woody Allen on several acclaimed films, including Sleeper, Manhattan, and Annie Hall, the latter of which garnered them an Oscar for original screenplay, as well as additional Academy Awards for best picture, best director, and best actress for Diane Keaton. Following these collaborations, he directed three films and later wrote the book for the successful musical Jersey Boys, which premiered on Broadway in 2005 and won numerous Tony Awards, running for twelve years. Throughout his career, Brickman maintained a preference for New York over Hollywood, shaped by significant events in his life, including narrowly avoiding the Manson murders at Sharon Tate's home. His creative legacy continues to influence aspiring artists in the film and theater industries.