Biography for
Barry Levinson (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

6 April 1942, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m)

Mini Biography

Barry Levinson graduated from high school in 1960, attended college at American University in Washington, DC. He did well, but decided he wanted to go to Los Angeles. In LA, Levinson worked for the Oxford Company, studying acting, improvisation, and production; worked in comedy clubs, where he learned how to write; and began dating Valerie Curtin. In 1967, won a job writing for a local TV comedy show. He eventually performed his material on the show, winning a local Emmy. In the 70s, Levinson wrote for "The Carol Burnett Show" (1967) -- and won two Emmys in three years. Mel Brooks hired him for Silent Movie (1976), then, High Anxiety (1977). Levinson and Curtin married in 1975. They co-wrote: _...And Justice for All (1979)_, and other scripts. While Curtin performed in San Francisco, he wrote Diner (1982). MGM bought it and, with a budget of under $5 million, Levinson directed. Curtin and Levinson divorced in 1982. Levinson met Dianna Rhodes while he was filming Diner (1982). She lived in Baltimore, with her two children Patrick and Michelle Levinson. Levinson and Rhodes later married and had two more children, Sam Levinson and Jack Levinson. Proving himself as a director with The Natural (1984), he tackled his most ambitious project to that time in Rain Man (1988). Levinson went on to place his stamp on films like Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), and Bugsy (1991). After his many successes, Toys (1992) did poorly. Levinson had a hit with Disclosure (1994) in 1994, the same year the Levinsons moved to Marin County in Northern California to get away from the Hollywood scene.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Bob Shields

Spouse

Diana Rhodes	(1983 - present) 2 children
Valerie Curtin	(13 December 1977 - 1982) (divorced)

Trade Mark

All of the films directed by Levinson have featured characteractor Ralph Tabakin in a small role.

Whenever possible, he sets his productions in Baltimore, Maryland.

Frequently casts Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman

Trivia

Since 1991, has been working on a documentary about the friends he grew up with in Baltimore in the 1950s.

Has homes in northern California and Annapolis, Maryland.

Stepfather of Michelle Levinsonand Patrick Levinson.

Attended the same high school (Forest Park in Baltimore) as ''Mama' Cass Elliot' and Spiro Agnew.

His films often take place in the past: Diner (1982); _Natural, The (1984)_ ; Good Morning, Vietnam (1987); Bugsy (1991); Avalon (1990); Sleepers (1996) and An Everlasting Piece (2000).

Wife Diana is a painter.

Living in Redding, Connecticut (2002).

Father of actor Sam Levinson and Jack Levinson.

Directed 6 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Glenn Close, Warren Beatty, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams. Hoffman won an Oscar for his performance in Levinson's Rain Man (1988).

Graduated from Forest Park High School in the Forest Park neighborhood of Baltimore: other famous alumni from Forest Park High School include former U.S. vice president Spiro Agnew, actor Thomas Beck and actress Margaret Hayes.

Movies often contain the score composed by Ennio Morricone.

Met and interviewed the late John Lennon in New York City, in 1980.

Jason Croot was screen tested for Barry Levinson in 2008.

Personal Quotes

It gets harder and harder to make movies about human beings. These movies are like an endangered species. Everything is "simplify, simplify" now. How many movies have sub-plots anymore?

We're talking about a very strange time (in Hollywood), to be honest. Writing by committee becomes much less about a vision. It is really about a piece of merchandise. We excuse movies like Independence Day (1996) that really lack logic and say, "It doesn't make any sense, but it's a ride". I thought a movie was a movie and a ride was a ride.

Salary

Bandits (2001)	$10,000,000
Rain Man (1988)	$2,500,000 +% of gross

Where Are They Now

(2003) Redding, Connecticut.

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