Jeannie Berlin
About
Biography
Biography
This spirited young nymph of the early 1970s who, during her brief heyday, tended to play sensuous yet flustered and gawky "Jewish-American princesses." The only child of comedienne-writer-director Elaine May, Berlin played several prominent supporting roles while still in her teens in "Getting Straight" and "The Baby Makers" (both 1970). Her most notable film work came when May directed her in the appealingly off-beat "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972), an adaptation of Neil Simon's comedy of embarrassment. As the bewildered bride whose husband of three days becomes involved with a cool blonde WASP, Berlin received excellent notices and an Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actress. "Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York" (1975), which cast Berlin in the title role, was a prominent failure, though, and she has subsequently been involved in occasional stage work. She did, however, return to the big screen when she wrote and played a leading role (opposite, among others, her mother) in the black comedy "In the Spirit" (1990).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Life Events
1969
Acted in the TV-movie romantic comedy "In Name Only" (ABC), a remake of the 1952 film "We're Not Married"
1969
Made feature film debut in a small role in "Alice's Restaurant"
1972
Received a Best Supportin Actress Oscar nomination as the abandoned bride in "The Heartbreak Kid," directed by her mother Elaine May
1975
Played first leading role in film, "Sheila Levine Is Dead and Living in New York"
1990
Returned to feature films; wrote the screenplay (with Laurie Jones) and played one of the leading roles in "In the Spirit"
1998
Acted alongside mother in off-Broadway production "Power Plays"
2003
Guest starred on the short-lived series "Miss Match" (NBC)
2011
Cast alongside Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, and Mark Ruffalo in "Margaret"; filming began in 2005 but spent more than five years in post-production
Videos
Movie Clip
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