Neil Simon is a master of Comey – I meant comedy, his playwriting and screenplays were a success on the big screen, TV, and Broadway. His plays deal with urban living, agonizing conflicts of family intimacy. Died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 91. The cause was a complication of pneumonia.
His career started as sketch comedy writer with Sid Caesar in “Your Show of Shows” where he worked with Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, and Sid Caesar.
Simon dominated Broadway in the 1960’s and 70’s with hits like “The Prisoner of Second Avenue,” “The Sunshine Boys,” (my favorite)“California Suite,” “Chapter Two.” “Barefoot in the Park.” “The Odd Couple.” “Sweet Charity.” “Plaza Suite.” “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers.” “Brighton Beach Memoirs.” “Lost in Yonkers.” and “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” To name a few. He wrote more than 30 plays.
He wrote the books for the musicals “Promises, Promises” and “They’re Playing Our Song.” And his plays won Tonys for actors and play writings too.
He will be missed. But he kept us laughing with his movies and Broadway.
