|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billy Crystal - Biography
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billy Crystal Biography
|
|
|
|
| |
| Name : | Billy Crystal |
|
|
Date of birth :
|
14 March 1947
|
|
|
Place of birth :
|
Long Beach, Long Island, New York, USA
|
|
|
Height :
|
5' 7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Billy Crystal Trivia
|
- Younger daughter, Lindsay, is an aspiring filmmaker
- His famous uncle, record producer Milt Gabler, founded Commodore Records and later Decca Records, where he produced the Bill Haley hit (We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock.
- He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care."
- Father of actresses, Jennifer Crystal and Lindsay Crystal.
- Attended Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va.
- He was Jay Leno's very first guest on Monday May 25, 1992 when Jay took over the late night throne vacated by Johnny Carson on Friday May 22, 1992.
- Is a partial owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and is a New York Yankee fan. The 2 baseball teams played each other in the 2001 World Series, Arizona ended up winning.
- Was cast as Rob Reiner's best friend the 1976 "All in the Family" (1971) episode "New Year's Wedding" and became his best friend in real life.
- Fan of the Los Angeles Clippers.
- Was introduced to wife by close friend, Steve Kohut.
- One of Billy Crystal's babysitters was Billie Holiday.
- His father was a concert promoter, who also ran a famous record store on 42nd Street, New York.
- Claims his wife Janice was his first and only date.
- Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 124-126. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
- Graduate of Long Beach High School, Long Beach, New York. Class of 1965 who voted him "Most Popular."
- Appearing as his popular character Fernando, hit #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 1984 with the catchy (and comedic) 'You Look Mahvelous' which featured Paul Schaeffer on keyboards
- Wrote children's book, "I Already Know I Love you" dedicated to Ella Ryan, his granddaughter, with illustrations by Elizabeth Saylos.
- Granddaughter, Ella Ryan, born 20 June 2003.
- Auditioned for the role of Jack Tripper on "Three's Company" - the character of a straight man impersonating a gay man. Ironically, he went on to play the role of Jody Dallas on "Soap" - the first openly gay character on primetime network television.
- Won a Tony Award in 2005 for his play "700 Sundays"
- For his Broadway debut, he won the 2005 Special Theatrical Event Tony for his one man show, which has been described as an "autobiographical journey," 700 Sundays.
|
|
|
Billy Crystal Detailed Biography
|
Billy Crystal has created one of the most versatile and remarkable careers in the entertainment industry, finding success both in front of the camera as a performer in film and television and behind the scenes as a writer, director and producer. The Long Island native grew up surrounded by music, as his family owned and operated the legendary Commodore label and record store, and his father produced concerts by some of the era's great jazz performers.
Before reaching college, Crystal had shown a knack for stand-up comedy that he later parlayed into a varied stage act that incorporated his gifts for mimicry and satire, as well as creating characters, many based on family members and persons he befriended through the family business.
After enjoying early acceptance as a live comic, he branched out into acting in television as a regular on the popular series Soap, playing the first openly gay character on a network television series. During the 1984-85 television season, the comedian met with phenomenal national success on the legendary late night series Saturday Night Live, creating several memorable characters, such as Fernando and Willie the Masochist, and performing a classic imitation of Sammy Davis Jr.
Crystal produced the acclaimed HBO series Sessions, and became the first comedian to perform in the Soviet Union with his special, Midnight Train to Moscow. He has starred in the films Running Scared, Throw Momma From the Train, Memories of Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally…, City Slickers and its sequel City Slickers II: The legend of Curley's Gold, which he also created and executive-produced, and Mr. Saturday Night, which he also directed.
Crystal directed and starred opposite Debra Winger in Forget Paris, and recently appeared in Hamlet, directed by Kenneth Branagh; in Deconstructing Harry, directed by Woody Allen; in the comedy Fathers' Day, starring opposite Robin Williams; and in My Giant, which he also produced.
Crystal has hosted the Grammy Awards three times and the Oscar telecast six times. He has won five Emmy Awards, six American Comedy Awards, and seven CableACE Awards, which pleased him most, as they are all in different categories -- host, comic, writer, producer, director. A dedicated human rights activist, he has co-hosted with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg all eight Comic Relief telethons, the most recent of which occurred during the filming of Analyze This.
|
|
|
|
