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Born Allen Stewart Konigsberg on 1 December 1935, Woody Allen is best known for his prolific movie output. However, he also worked as a stand-up as well as being a writer, actor and musician. From the age of 15 he started writing jokes for newspapers, progressing to writing jokes for talk shows. During this time his changed his name to Heywood Allen, a homage to the clarinettist Woody Herman. (Woody Allen also plays the clarinet). His agents thought he should be presenting his own material,... moreBorn Allen Stewart Konigsberg on 1 December 1935, Woody Allen is best known for his prolific movie output. However, he also worked as a stand-up as well as being a writer, actor and musician. From the age of 15 he started writing jokes for newspapers, progressing to writing jokes for talk shows. During this time his changed his name to Heywood Allen, a homage to the clarinettist Woody Herman. (Woody Allen also plays the clarinet). His agents thought he should be presenting his own material, and encouraged him to try stand-up. Aged 26, he performed his first gig in a Greenwich Village club. He was terrified of the audience when they applauded his routine he would block his ears - a trait that only served to increase his popularity. It was during his stand up that he honed his famous persona of an intellectual, Jewish, neurotic New Yorker. He produced two comedy albums Stand up Comic and Nightclub Years 1964 -1960. He was ranked 4th in Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.
Woody Allen Quotes
Woody Allen - Down South
I was down south once, and I was invited to a costume party, and I rarely go to them, I went to one when I was younger. I went in my underwear shorts, and I have varicose veins. I went as a roadmap. And I figure what the hell, it's Halloween,... more
Woody Allen - Eggs Benedict
I had once a pain in the chestal area. Now, I was sure it was heartburn, y'know, cause at that time I was married and my wife cooking with her Nazi recipes, y'know, chicken Himmler. I didn't wanna pay 25 bucks to have it reaffirmed by some... more
Woody Allen the Group Analysis Reunion
Last year the group broke up. I get in the mail an engraved invitation. Class reunion. The old group analysis group, all the neurotics came back, all the nail bitters and bedwetters. It was a catered affair. It was a fabulous thing... more
Woody Allen on Death and the Afterlife
The thing to remember is that each time of life has it's appropriate rewards, whereas when you're dead it's hard to find the light switch. The chief problem about death, incidentally, is the fear that there may be no afterlife - a depressing... more
Woody Allen the Vodka Ad
Let me start at the very beginning. I did a vodka ad, that's the first important thing. A big vodka company wanted to do a prestige ad, and they wanted to get Noel Coward originally for it. He was not available, he had acquired the rights... more
Links
Woody Allen DVD's, Blu-Ray's and Downloads
WoodyAllen.com - His official site.
Wikipedia Listing - Detailed bio.
Anders Herman Torp - Woody Allen Fansite.
Guardian.co.uk - Woody's filmography, news and blog posts.
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