Woody Allen has a longstanding successful career in Hollywood. The actor, author, and playwright already earned over a hundred million dollars during his 64 years in the entertainment industry. But how did Allen do it? Read through the article to know Allen’s achievements that made him one of the wealthiest celebrities in showbiz today.
Woody Allen: Early Years
Woody Allen, legally named Allan Stewart Konigsberg, was born in the Bronx borough in New York on November 30, 1935. His mother, Nettie Cherry, worked as a bookkeeper, while his father, Martin Konigsberg, made a living as a waiter and a jewelry engraver. He came from a Jewish family that hailed from Austria and Lithuania.
When he turned 17 years old, he legally changed his name to Heywood Allen then used the nickname Woody during introductions. He enrolled at New York University to study communication and film but dropped out later when he failed his Motion Picture Production class. He opted to move to the New York City College to study film for one semester back in 1954.
Woody Allen: Early Career
Allen was introduced to the entertainment industry when he became a part of “The Herb Shriner Show” as a full-time writer, where he earned $25 per week. Then he was hired to become a scriptwriter for talk shows like “The Tonight Show.” Allen also had a stint as a writer for a popular comedic series titled “Candid Camera.”
After several writing jobs, Allen opted to try his luck in a stand-up comedy career. He started performing at some of the small clubs in the Greenwich Village area in Manhattan back in 1961. In 1964, Allen released a comedy album titled “Woody Allen,” which earned him a nomination at the Grammy Awards during that year. He went on to pursue his comedic career and made his name as a writer in Broadway plays. Some of his most notable works include 1969’s “Play It Again, Sam” and the 1966 comedy play “Don’t Drink the Water.”
He ventured into scriptwriting for films in 1965 in the movie “What’s New, Pussycat?” Then he made his directorial debut in the 1966 movie “What’s Up, Tiger Lily?” It led him to branch out to other areas in the entertainment industry. By 1969, he started acting in the films that he worked on, including the 1969 movie “Take the Money and Run,” which he also wrote, produced, and directed.
Woody Allen: His Notable Works
Allen catapulted to worldwide stardom as an actor and director due to his iconic works, including 1977’s romantic comedy film “Annie Hall.” The film earned him multiple awards, including the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Diane Keaton from the Academy Awards.
Allen also won several recognitions from the British Academy Film Awards for his films “Manhattan” in 1979 and “The Purple Rose of Cairo” in 1985.
Woody Allen: Work Style
Throughout his career, Allen earned a reputation for producing offbeat comedy that was never done by his contemporaries in the past. According to an article from Project Hatch, the Hollywood icon’s writing style is intellectual yet self-deprecating. He started to make a signature niche that made him stand out in the entertainment industry because of his works.
Woody Allen’s fortune came from all the masterpieces that he contributed to Hollywood her the years. He put his talent in writing into good use and capitalized it to earn millions of money. While he encountered several ups and downs along the way, he always redeems himself by creating high-quality films for the audience.
