name	Academy Award
alt	An Academy Award statuette, depicting a knight, rendered in Art Deco style, holding a crusader's sword
description	Excellence in cinematic achievements
presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
country	United States
year	May 16, 1929
website	www.Oscars.org }}

An Academy Award, also known as the Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world, and is televised live in more than 200 countries annually. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media; its equivalents, the Grammy Awards (for music), Emmy Awards (for television), and Tony Awards (for theatre) are modeled after the Academy.

The AMPAS was originally conceived by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer as a professional honorary organization to help improve the film industry’s image and help mediate labor disputes. The Oscar itself was later initiated by the Academy as an award "of merit for distinctive achievement" in the industry.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season. The most recent ceremony, honoring films in 2010, was held at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011.

History

The first awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private brunch at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel with an audience of about 270 people. The post Academy Awards party was held at the Mayfair Hotel. The cost of guest tickets for that night's ceremony was $5. Fifteen statuettes were awarded, honoring artists, directors and other personalities of the filmmaking industry of the time for their works during the 1927–1928 period.

Winners had been announced three months earlier of their triumphs; however that was changed in the second ceremony of the Academy Awards in 1930. Since then and during the first decade, the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 pm on the night of the awards. This method was used until the ''Los Angeles Times'' announced the winners before the ceremony began; as a result, the Academy has used a sealed envelope to reveal the name of the winners since 1941.

For the first six ceremonies, the eligibility period spanned two calendar years. For example, the 2nd Academy Awards presented on April 3, 1930, recognized films that were released between August 1, 1928 and July 31, 1929. Starting with the 7th Academy Awards, held in 1935, the period of eligibility became the full previous calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings, for his performances in ''The Last Command'' and ''The Way of All Flesh''. He had to return to Europe before the ceremony, so the Academy agreed to give him the prize earlier; this made him the first Academy Award winner in history. The honored professionals were awarded for all the work done in a certain category for the qualifying period; for example, Emil Jannings received the award for two movies in which he starred during that period. Since the fourth ceremony, the system changed, and the professionals were honored for a specific performance in a single film. As of the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony held in 2010, a total of 2,789 Oscars have been given for 1,825 awards. A total of 302 actors have won Oscars in competitive acting categories or been awarded Honorary or Juvenile Awards.

The 1939 film ''Beau Geste'' is the only movie that features as many as four Academy Award winners for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Susan Hayward, Broderick Crawford) prior to any of the actors receiving the Best Actor Award.

At the 29th ceremony, held on March 27, 1957, the Best Foreign Language Film category was introduced. Until then, foreign language films were honored with the Special Achievement Award.

Oscar statuette

Design

Although there are seven other types of awards presented by the Academy (the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, the Gordon E. Sawyer Award, the Scientific and Engineering Award, the Technical Achievement Award, the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation, and the Student Academy Award), the best known one is the ''Academy Award of Merit'' more popularly known as the Oscar statuette. Made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base, it is 13.5 in (34 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 lb (3.85 kg) and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a crusader's sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes. The five spokes each represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.

MGM's art director Cedric Gibbons, one of the original Academy members, supervised the design of the award trophy by printing the design on a scroll. In need of a model for his statuette Gibbons was introduced by his then wife Dolores del Río to Mexican film director and actor Emilio "El Indio" Fernández. Reluctant at first, Fernández was finally convinced to pose nude to create what today is known as the "Oscar". Then, sculptor George Stanley (who also did the Muse Fountain at the Hollywood Bowl) sculpted Gibbons's design in clay and Sachin Smith cast the statuette in 92.5 percent tin and 7.5 percent copper and then gold-plated it. The only addition to the Oscar since it was created is a minor streamlining of the base. The original Oscar mold was cast in 1928 at the C.W. Shumway & Sons Foundry in Batavia, Illinois, which also contributed to casting the molds for the Vince Lombardi Trophy and Emmy Awards statuettes. Since 1983, approximately 50 Oscars are made each year in Chicago by Illinois manufacturer R.S. Owens & Company.

In support of the American effort in World War II, the statuettes were made of plaster and were traded in for gold ones after the war had ended.

Naming

The root of the name ''Oscar'' is contested. One biography of Bette Davis claims that she named the Oscar after her first husband, band leader Harmon Oscar Nelson; one of the earliest mentions in print of the term ''Oscar'' dates back to a ''Time'' magazine article about the 1934 6th Academy Awards. Walt Disney is also quoted as thanking the Academy for his Oscar as early as 1932. Another claimed origin is that the Academy's Executive Secretary, Margaret Herrick, first saw the award in 1931 and made reference to the statuette's reminding her of her "Uncle Oscar" (a nickname for her cousin Oscar Pierce). Columnist Sidney Skolsky was present during Herrick's naming and seized the name in his byline, "Employees have affectionately dubbed their famous statuette 'Oscar'". The trophy was officially dubbed the "Oscar" in 1939 by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Another legend reports that the Norwegian-American Eleanor Lilleberg, executive secretary to Louis B. Mayer, saw the first statuette and exclaimed, "It looks like King Oscar II!". At the end of the day she asked, "What should we do with Oscar, put him in the vault?" and the name stuck.

Ownership of Oscar statuettes

Since 1950, the statuettes have been legally encumbered by the requirement that neither winners nor their heirs may sell the statuettes without first offering to sell them back to the Academy for US$1. If a winner refuses to agree to this stipulation, then the Academy keeps the statuette. Academy Awards not protected by this agreement have been sold in public auctions and private deals for six-figure sums.

While the Oscar is under the ownership of the recipient, it is essentially not on the open market. The case of Michael Todd's grandson trying to sell Todd's Oscar statuette illustrates that there are some who do not agree with this idea. When Todd's grandson attempted to sell Todd's Oscar statuette to a movie prop collector, the Academy won the legal battle by getting a permanent injunction. Although Oscar sales transactions have been successful, some buyers have subsequently returned the statuettes to the Academy, which keeps them in its treasury.

Nomination

Since 2004, Academy Award nomination results have been announced to the public in late January. Prior to 2004, nomination results were announced publicly in early February.

Voters

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), a professional honorary organization, maintains a voting membership of 5,835 as of 2007.

Academy membership is divided into different branches, with each representing a different discipline in film production. Actors constitute the largest voting bloc, numbering 1,311 members (22 percent) of the Academy's composition. Votes have been certified by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (and its predecessor Price Waterhouse) for the past 73 annual awards ceremonies.

All AMPAS members must be invited to join by the Board of Governors, on behalf of Academy Branch Executive Committees. Membership eligibility may be achieved by a competitive nomination or a member may submit a name based on other significant contribution to the field of motion pictures.

New membership proposals are considered annually. The Academy does not publicly disclose its membership, although as recently as 2007 press releases have announced the names of those who have been invited to join. The 2007 release also stated that it has just under 6,000 voting members. While the membership had been growing, stricter policies have kept its size steady since then.

Rules

Currently, according to Rules 2 and 3 of the official Academy Awards Rules, a film must open in the previous calendar year, from midnight at the start of January 1 to midnight at the end of December 31, in Los Angeles County, California, to qualify (except for the Best Foreign Language Film). For example, the 2010 Best Picture winner, ''The Hurt Locker'', was actually first released in 2008, but did not qualify for the 2009 awards as it did not play its Oscar-qualifying run in Los Angeles until mid-2009, thus qualifying for the 2010 awards.

Rule 2 states that a film must be feature-length, defined as a minimum of 40 minutes, except for short subject awards, and it must exist either on a 35 mm or 70 mm film print or in 24 frame/s or 48 frame/s progressive scan digital cinema format with native resolution not less than 1280x720.

Producers must submit an Official Screen Credits online form before the deadline; in case it is not submitted by the defined deadline, the film will be ineligible for Academy Awards in any year. The form includes the production credits for all related categories. Then, each form is checked and put in a Reminder List of Eligible Releases.

In late December ballots and copies of the Reminder List of Eligible Releases are mailed to around 6000 active members. For most categories, members from each of the branches vote to determine the nominees only in their respective categories (i.e. only directors vote for directors, writers for writers, actors for actors, etc.); there are some exceptions though in the case of certain categories, like Foreign Film, Documentary and Animated Feature Film in which movies are selected by special screening committees made up of members from all branches. In the special case of Best Picture, all voting members are eligible to select the nominees for that category. Foreign films must include English subtitles, and each country can only submit one film per year.

The members of the various branches nominate those in their respective fields while all members may submit nominees for Best Picture. The winners are then determined by a second round of voting in which all members are then allowed to vote in most categories, including Best Picture.

Ceremony

Telecast

The major awards are presented at a live televised ceremony, most commonly in February or March following the relevant calendar year, and six weeks after the announcement of the nominees. It is the culmination of the film awards season, which usually begins during November or December of the previous year. This is an elaborate extravaganza, with the invited guests walking up the red carpet in the creations of the most prominent fashion designers of the day. Black tie dress is the most common outfit for men, although fashion may dictate not wearing a bow-tie, and musical performers sometimes do not adhere to this. (The artists who recorded the nominees for Best Original Song quite often perform those songs live at the awards ceremony, and the fact that they are performing is often used to promote the television broadcast).

The Academy Awards is televised live across the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, the United Kingdom, and gathers millions of viewers elsewhere throughout the world. The 2007 ceremony was watched by more than 40 million Americans. Other awards ceremonies (such as the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys) are broadcast live in the East Coast but are on tape delay in the West Coast and might not air on the same day outside North America (if the awards are even televised). The Academy has for several years claimed that the award show has up to a billion viewers internationally, but this has so far not been confirmed by any independent sources. The Awards show was first televised on NBC in 1953. NBC continued to broadcast the event until 1960 when the ABC Network took over, televising the festivities through 1970, after which NBC resumed the broadcasts. ABC once again took over broadcast duties in 1976; it is under contract to do so through the year 2020.

After more than sixty years of being held in late March or early April, the ceremonies were moved up to late February or early March starting in 2004 to help disrupt and shorten the intense lobbying and ad campaigns associated with Oscar season in the film industry. Another reason was because of the growing TV ratings success of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, which would cut into the Academy Awards audience. The earlier date is also to the advantage of ABC, as it now usually occurs during the highly profitable and important February sweeps period. (Some years, the ceremony is moved into early March in deference to the Winter Olympics.) Advertising is somewhat restricted, however, as traditionally no movie studios or competitors of official Academy Award sponsors may advertise during the telecast. The Awards show holds the distinction of having won the most Emmys in history, with 47 wins and 195 nominations.

After many years of being held on Mondays at 9:00 p.m. Eastern/6:00 p.m Pacific, in 1999 the ceremonies were moved to Sundays at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Pacific. The reasons given for the move were that more viewers would tune in on Sundays, that Los Angeles rush-hour traffic jams could be avoided, and that an earlier start time would allow viewers on the East Coast to go to bed earlier. For many years the film industry had opposed a Sunday broadcast because it would cut into the weekend box office.

On March 30, 1981, the awards ceremony was postponed for one day after the shooting of President Ronald Reagan and others in Washington, D.C.

In 1993, an ''In Memoriam'' segment was introduced, honoring those who had made a significant contribution to cinema who had died in the preceding 12 months, a selection compiled by a small committee of Academy members. This segment has drawn criticism over the years for the omission of some names.

In 2010, the organizers of the Academy Awards announced that winners' acceptance speeches must not run past 45 seconds. This, according to organizer Bill Mechanic, was to ensure the elimination of what he termed "the single most hated thing on the show" – overly long and embarrassing displays of emotion.

The Academy has also had recent discussions about moving the ceremony even further back into January, citing TV viewers' fatigue with the film industry's long awards season. But such an accelerated schedule would dramatically decrease the voting period for its members, to the point where some voters would only have time to view the contending films streamed on their computers. Also, a January ceremony may have to compete with National Football League playoff games.

Past ceremonies and ratings

The following is a listing of all Academy Awards ceremonies and ratings since 1929.

Historically, the "Oscarcast" has pulled in a bigger haul when box-office hits are favored to win the Best Picture trophy. More than 57.25 million viewers tuned to the telecast for the 70th Academy Awards in 1998, the year of ''Titanic'', which generated close to US$600 million at the North American box office pre-Oscars. The 76th Academy Awards ceremony in which ''The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (pre-telecast box office earnings of US$368 million) received 11 Awards including Best Picture drew 43.56 million viewers. The most watched ceremony based on Nielsen ratings to date, however, was the 42nd Academy Awards (Best Picture ''Midnight Cowboy'') which drew a 43.4% household rating on April 7, 1970.

By contrast, ceremonies honoring films that have not performed well at the box office tend to show weaker ratings. The 78th Academy Awards which awarded low-budgeted, independent film ''Crash'' (with a pre-Oscar gross of US$53.4 million) generated an audience of 38.64 million with a household rating of 22.91%. In 2008, the 80th Academy Awards telecast was watched by 31.76 million viewers on average with an 18.66% household rating, the lowest rated and least watched ceremony to date, in spite of celebrating 80 years of the Academy Awards. The Best Picture winner of that particular ceremony was another low-budget, independently financed film (''No Country for Old Men'').

Venues

In 1929, the first Academy Awards were presented at a banquet dinner at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. From 1930–1943, the awards were presented first at the Ambassador Hotel in Hollywood. Then the Oscar ceremonies were held at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles from 1930 to 1943.

Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood then hosted the awards from 1944 to 1946, followed by the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles from 1947 to 1948. The 21st Academy Awards in 1949 were held at the Academy Award Theater at what was the Academy's headquarters on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.

From 1950 to 1960, the awards were presented at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre. With the advent of television, the 1953–1957 awards took place simultaneously in Hollywood and New York first at the NBC International Theatre (1953) and then at the NBC Century Theatre (1954–1957), after which the ceremony took place solely in Los Angeles. The Oscars moved to the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica, California in 1961. By 1969, the Academy decided to move the ceremonies back to Los Angeles, this time to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Music Center.

In 2002, Hollywood's Kodak Theatre became the permanent home of the award ceremonies.

Academy Awards of merit

Current awards

Best Actor in a Leading Role: 1928 to present

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: 1936 to present

Best Actress in a Leading Role: 1928 to present

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: 1936 to present

Best Animated Film: 2001 to present

Best Animated Short Film: 1931 to present

Best Art Direction: 1928 to present

Best Cinematography: 1928 to present

Best Costume Design: 1948 to present

Best Director: 1928 to present

Best Documentary Feature: 1943 to present

Best Documentary Short Subject: 1941 to present

Best Film Editing: 1935 to present

Best Foreign Language Film: 1947 to present

Best Live Action Short Film: 1931 to present

Best Makeup: 1981 to present

Best Original Score: 1934 to present

Best Original Song: 1934 to present

Best Picture: 1928 to present

Best Sound Editing: 1963 to present

Best Sound Mixing: 1930 to present

Best Visual Effects: 1939 to present

Best Adapted Screenplay: 1928 to present

Best Original Screenplay: 1940 to present

In the first year of the awards, the Best Director award was split into two separate categories (Drama and Comedy). At times, the Best Original Score award has also been split into separate categories (Drama and Comedy/Musical). From the 1930s through the 1960s, the Art Direction, Cinematography, and Costume Design awards were likewise split into two separate categories (black-and-white films and color films).

Another award, entitled the Academy Award for Best Original Musical, is still in the Academy rulebooks and has yet to be retired. However, due to continuous insufficient eligibility each year, it has not been awarded since 1984 (when ''Purple Rain'' won).

Retired awards

Best Assistant Director: 1933 to 1937

Best Dance Direction: 1935 to 1937

Best Engineering Effects: 1928 only

Best Original Musical or Comedy Score: 1995 to 1999

Best Original Story: 1928 to 1956

Best Score – Adaptation or Treatment: 1962 to 1969; 1973

Best Short Film – Color: 1936 and 1937

Best Short Film – Live Action – 2 Reels: 1936 to 1956

Best Short Film – Novelty: 1932 to 1935

Best Title Writing: 1928 only

Best Unique and Artistic Quality of Production: 1928 only

Proposed awards

The Board of Governors meets each year and considers new awards. To date, the following proposed awards have not been approved:

Best Casting: rejected in 1999 Best Stunt Coordination: rejected in 1999; rejected in 2005 Best Title Design: rejected in 1999

Special Academy Awards

These awards are voted on by special committees, rather than by the Academy membership as a whole, but the individual selected to receive the special award may decline the offer. They are not always presented on a consistent annual basis.

Current special awards

Academy Honorary Award: 1929 to present

Academy Scientific and Technical Award: 1931 to present

Gordon E. Sawyer Award: 1981 to present

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: 1956 to present

Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award: 1938 to present

Retired special awards

Academy Juvenile Award: 1934 to 1960

Academy Special Achievement Award: 1972 to 1995

Criticism

Due to the positive exposure and prestige of the Academy Awards, studios spend millions of dollars and hire publicists specifically to promote their films during what is typically called the "Oscar season." This has generated accusations of the Academy Awards being influenced more by marketing than quality. William Friedkin, an Academy Award-winning film director and former producer of the ceremony, expressed this sentiment at a conference in New York in 2009, describing it as "the greatest promotion scheme that any industry ever devised for itself."

In addition, some winners critical of the Academy Awards have boycotted the ceremonies and refused to accept their Oscars. The first to do so was Dudley Nichols (Best Writing in 1935 for ''The Informer''). Nichols boycotted the 8th Academy Awards ceremony because of conflicts between the Academy and the Writer's Guild. George C. Scott became the second person to refuse his award (Best Actor in 1970 for ''Patton'') at the 43rd Academy Awards ceremony. Scott described it as a 'meat parade', saying 'I don't want any part of it." The third winner, Marlon Brando, refused his award (Best Actor in 1972 for ''The Godfather''), citing the film industry's discrimination and mistreatment of Native Americans. At the 45th Academy Awards ceremony, Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to read a 15-page speech detailing his criticisms.

It has been observed that several of the Academy Award winners – particularly Best Picture – have not stood the test of time or defeated worthier efforts. Tim Dirks, editor of AMC's filmsite.org, has written of the Academy Awards,

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Best Picture is not the only category to come under criticism. In his review of ''The Lives of Others'', Nick Davis argued,

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Acting prizes in certain years have been criticized for not recognizing superior performances so much as being awarded for sentimental reasons, personal popularity, atonement for past mistakes, or presented as a "career honor" to recognize a distinguished nominee's entire body of work.

Associated events

The following events are closely associated with the annual Academy Awards ceremony:

Governors Awards

The 25th Independent Spirit Awards (in 2010), usually held in Santa Monica the Saturday before the Oscars, marked the first time it was moved to a Friday and a change of venue to L.A. Live, the newly built entertainment complex developed in Downtown Los Angeles.

The 8th annual "Night Before", traditionally held at the Beverly Hills Hotel (eight years running in 2010) and generally known as ''THE'' party of the season, benefits the Motion Picture and Television Fund, which operates a retirement home for SAG actors in the San Fernando Valley.

Elton John's AIDS fundraiser viewing party airs the awards live at the nearby Pacific Design Center.

The Governors' Ball is the Academy's official after-party, including dinner, and is held adjacent to the awards-presentation venue.

The Vanity Fair after-party, historically held at the former Morton's restaurant, is now for the 2nd year at the Sunset Towers.

See also

Academy Awards pre-show

Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Party

Golden Raspberry Award

List of Academy Award records

List of Academy Award-winning films

List of Academy Awards ceremonies

List of Academy Award trophies on public display

List of actors who have appeared in multiple Best Picture Academy Award winners

List of Asian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Australian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Big Five Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Black Academy Award winners and nominees

List of British and Commonwealth Academy Award winners and nominees

List of English Academy Award nominees and winners

List of fictitious Academy Award nominees

List of foreign language films nominated for Academy Awards

List of French Academy Award winners and nominees

Lists of Hispanic Academy Award winners and nominees by country

List of Italian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of Latin American Academy Award winners and nominees

List of oldest and youngest Academy Award winners and nominees

List of people who have won multiple Academy Awards in a single year

List of Polish Academy Award winners and nominees

List of posthumous Academy Award winners and nominees

List of presenters of Best Picture Academy Award

List of Scandinavian Academy Award winners and nominees

List of superlative Academy Award winners and nominees

List of years in film

Oscar season

Notes

References

Brokaw, Lauren (2010). "Wanna see an Academy Awards invite? We got it along with all the major annual events surrounding the Oscars". Los Angeles: The Daily Truffle.

Gail, K., and Piazza, J. (2002). ''The Academy Awards: The Complete History of Oscar.'' Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, Inc. ISBN 1-57912-240-X.

Levy, Emanuel (2003). ''All About Oscar: The History and Politics of the Academy Awards.'' New York: Continuum. ISBN 0-8264-1452-4.

Wright, Jon (2007). ''The Lunacy of Oscar: The Problems with Hollywood's Biggest Night''. Thomas Publishing, Inc.

External links

Oscars.org—official Academy site

Oscar.com—official Academy Award ceremony site

"Oscar Greats" at ''Time'' magazine

Category:Academy Awards Category:American film awards Category:Article Feedback Pilot Category:Awards established in 1929

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Philippe Falardeau (born 1968 in Hull, Québec, Canada) is a Canadian film director and screenwriter.

His first feature film, ''La Moitié gauche du frigo'' (2000) won "Best Canadian First Feature" at the Toronto International Film Festival and a Best Screenplay nomination at the Quebec-based Jutra Awards. Falardeau also received the Claude Jutra Award at the Canadian Genies in 2001 for this film.

Falardeau's ''Congorama'' won him a Genie Award in 2007 for Best Original Screenplay. His latest feature is ''C'est pas moi, je le jure!'' (English title: ''It's Not Me, I Swear!'')

External links

Northern Stars entry for Philippe Falardeau

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:French Quebecers Category:Quebec film directors Category:Genie Award winners for Best Screenplay

fr:Philippe Falardeau pt:Phillipe Falardeau

Name	Billy Crystal
Birth date	March 14, 1948
Birth name	William Edward Crystal
Birth place	New York City, United States
Spouse	Janice Goldfinger (1970–present)
Nationality	American
Active	1975–present

}} William Edward "Billy" Crystal (born March 14, 1948) is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom ''Soap'' and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes ''When Harry Met Sally...'' and ''City Slickers''. He has hosted the Academy Awards eight times.

Early life

Crystal was born in the Doctor's Hospital in Manhattan and grew up in Long Beach, New York, the son of Helen (née Gabler), a housewife, and Jack Crystal, a record company executive and producer of jazz records, who owned and operated the Commodore Record store. His uncle was musician and songwriter Milt Gabler, and his brother, Richard "Rip" Crystal, is a television producer. Crystal grew up in a Jewish family that he has described as "large" and "loving". Billie Holiday was one of Crystal's babysitters during his childhood.

After graduation from Long Beach High School, Crystal attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, on a baseball scholarship, having learned the game from his father, who pitched for St. John's University. Crystal never played a game at Marshall because the program was suspended during his freshman year. He did not return as a sophomore, staying back in New York with his future wife. He then went on to Nassau Community College, and later attended New York University, where he graduated with a B.F.A. from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1970. He was also the Editor-in-Chief of the BG News from 1969–70.

Career

Television

Crystal returned to New York and performed regularly at ''The Improv'' and ''Catch a Rising Star''. He studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. In 1976, Crystal appeared on an episode of ''All in the Family''. He was on the dais for the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Muhammad Ali on February 19, 1976, where he did impressions of both Ali and sportscaster Howard Cosell. He was scheduled to appear on the first episode of ''NBC Saturday Night'' (later renamed ''Saturday Night Live'') (October 11, 1975), but his sketch was cut. He did do a stand-up bit later in that first season as "Bill Crystal", on the April 17, 1976, episode; the "Can you dig it? I knew that you could," portion of which was repeatedly quoted by characters in the 1977 film, ''Saturday Night Fever''.

Crystal's earliest prominent role was as Jodie Dallas on ''Soap'', one of the first unambiguously gay characters in the cast of an American television series. He continued in the role the series' entire 1977–1981 run.

After hosting ''Saturday Night Live'' in 1984, he joined the regular cast. His most famous recurring sketch was his parody of Fernando Lamas Fernando, a smarmy talk show host whose catchphrase, "You look... mahvelous!," became a media sensation. Crystal subsequently released an album of his stand-up material titled ''Mahvelous!'' in 1985, as well as the single "You Look Marvelous", which peaked at #58 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the same year. Also in the 1980s, Crystal starred in an episode of Shelley Duvall's ''Faerie Tale Theater'' as the smartest of the three little pigs.

In 1996, Crystal was the guest star of the third episode of ''Muppets Tonight''.

Acting in film and hosting the Oscars

Crystal's first film role was in Joan Rivers's 1978 film ''Rabbit Test''. Crystal also made game show appearances such as ''The Hollywood Squares'', ''All Star Secrets'' and ''The $20,000 Pyramid''. He holds the record for getting his contestant partner to the top of the pyramid in winner's circle in the fastest time, 26 seconds.

Crystal appeared briefly in Rob Reiner's 1984 "rockumentary" ''This Is Spinal Tap'' as Morty The Mime, a waiter dressed as a mime at one of Spinal Tap's parties. He shared the scene with a then-unknown, non-speaking Dana Carvey. Crystal's line in the film was "Mime is money." Reiner directed Crystal again in ''The Princess Bride'' (1987).

Reiner directed Crystal for a third time in the classic romantic comedy ''When Harry Met Sally...'' (1989), for which Crystal was nominated for a Golden Globe. Crystal then starred in the buddy comedy ''City Slickers'' (1991), which proved very successful both commercially and critically and for which Crystal was nominated for his second Golden Globe.

Following the success of these films, Crystal wrote, directed, and starred in ''Mr. Saturday Night'' (1992) and ''Forget Paris'' (1995). In the former, Crystal played a serious role in aging makeup, as an egotistical comedian who reflects back on his career. He directed the made-for-television movie ''61*'' (2001) based on Roger Maris's and Mickey Mantle's race to break Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 1961. This earned Crystal an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

Crystal has continued working in film, including ''Analyze This'' (1999) and ''Analyze That'' (2002) with Robert De Niro, and in the English version of ''Howl's Moving Castle'' as the voice of Calcifer. Pixar originally approached him to provide the voice of Buzz Lightyear in ''Toy Story'' (1995). He turned down that offer, but regretted it after the film became one of the most popular releases of the year. Crystal later went on to provide the voice of Mike Wazowski in the Pixar film, ''Monsters, Inc.'' (2001), which was nominated for the inaugural Best Animated Feature Oscar.

Crystal hosted the Academy Awards broadcast in 1990–1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004; and he reportedly turned down hosting the 2006 ceremony to concentrate on his one-man show, ''700 Sundays''. His eight times as the M.C. is second only to Bob Hope's 18 in most ceremonies hosted. At the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony in 2011, he appeared as a presenter for a digitally inserted Bob Hope and before doing so was given a standing ovation. Film critic Roger Ebert said when Crystal came onstage about two hours into the show, he got the first laughs of the broadcast.

Broadway

Crystal won the 2005 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for ''700 Sundays'', a two-act, one-man play, which he conceived and wrote about his parents and his childhood growing up on Long Island. He toured the U.S. with the show in 2006 and Australia in 2007.

Following the initial success of the play, Crystal wrote the book ''700 Sundays'' for Warner Books, which was published on October 31, 2005. In conjunction with the book and the play that also paid tribute to his uncle, Milt Gabler, Crystal produced two CD compilations: ''Billy Crystal Presents: The Milt Gabler Story'', which featured his uncle's most influential recordings from Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" to "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets; and ''Billy Remembers Billie'' featuring Crystal's favorite Holiday recordings.

Philanthropy

In 1986, Crystal started hosting ''Comic Relief'' on HBO with Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. Founded by Bob Zmuda, Comic Relief raises money for homeless people in the United States.

On September 6, 2005, on ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', Crystal and Jay Leno were the first celebrities to sign a Harley-Davidson motorcycle to be auctioned off for Gulf Coast relief.

Crystal has participated in the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. Portraying himself in a video, Crystal introduces museum guests to the genealogy wing of the museum.

New York baseball

On March 12, 2008, Crystal signed a minor league contract, for a single day, to play with the New York Yankees, and was invited to the team's major league spring training. He wore uniform number 60, in honor of his upcoming 60th birthday. On March 13, in a spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Crystal led off as the designated hitter. He managed to make contact, fouling a fastball up the first base line, but was eventually struck out by Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm on 6 pitches and was later replaced in the batting order by Johnny Damon. He was released on March 14, his 60th birthday. Although a life-long Yankee fan, he is a part-owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks, even earning a World Series ring in 2001 when the Diamondbacks beat his beloved Yankees.

In the movie ''City Slickers'', Crystal wears a New York Mets baseball cap.

Personal life

Billy Crystal and his wife Janice have two daughters, actress Jennifer and producer Lindsay, and are now grandparents. They reside in Pacific Palisades, California.

Awards

In addition to his Golden Globe Award-nominations, Emmy Awards, and Tony Award, Crystal won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for ''700 Sundays'' and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2007.

Filmography

! Year	! Title	! Role	! Notes
1977–1981		Jodie Dallas	TV series
1977	''SST: Death Flight''	David
		Lionel Carpenter
''Human Feelings	Angel	Made for TV
1980	''Animalympics''	Lodge Turkell	Voice
1984	''This Is Spinal Tap''	Morty the Mime
1986		Danny Constanzo
		Miracle Max
''Throw Momma from the Train''	Larry Donner
1988	''Memories of Me''	Abbie	Writer/Producer
1989	''When Harry Met Sally...''	Harry Burns
1991	''City Slickers''	Mitch Robbins
	''Horton Hatches the Egg''	Narrator	Voice
''Mr. Saturday Night''	Buddy Young, Jr.	Writer/Director/ProducerNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1994	''City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold''	Mitch Robbins	Writer/Producer
	''Forget Paris''	Mickey Gordon	Writer/Director/Producer
1996	''Muppets Tonight''	Himself	Guest star on third episode
	''Deconstructing Harry''	Larry
	Jack Lawrence
''Friends''	The Gynecologist (with Robin Williams)	TV Series
1998	''My Giant''	Sam 'Sammy' Kamin	Writer/Producer
1999	''Analyze This''	Dr. Ben Sobel	Executive Producer
2000	''The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle''	Mattress salesman	Uncredited
	''61*''		Director
''America's Sweethearts''	Lee Phillips	Writer/Producer
''Monsters, Inc.''	Michael "Mike" Wazowski	Voice
	''Mike's New Car''	Mike Wazowski	Short Film SubjectVoice
''Analyze That''	Dr. Ben Sobel	Executive Producer
2004		Calcifer	Voice
2005	''Dinotopia: Quest for the Ruby Sunstone''	Karl Scott	Voice
2006		Mike Car	Voice
		Jerry	Uncredited
''Planet Sheen''	Soldier Joagth	Voice Episode: ''What's Up Chock?''
2011			Cameo
2013	''Monsters University''	Mike Wazowski	Voice

''Saturday Night Live''

Characters

Al Minkman, a shady businessman

Fernando, host of ''Fernando's Hideaway'', a celebrity interview show; based on actor Fernando Lamas

Buddy Young, Jr. (an insult comic who appears on Weekend Update)

Lew Goldman

Ricky, a bowler

Tony Minetti, a butcher

Willie, a man who, along with his friend, Frankie (played by Christopher Guest), discuss their masochistic tendencies

Impersonations

Fernando Lamas

Howard Cosell

Muhammad Ali

John F. Kennedy

Joe Franklin

Hervé Villechaize

Joe Garagiola

Adam Ant

Prince

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Bibliography

A children's book. A children's book. Crystal's memoirs with his father.

References

External links

Billy Crystal appears on Michael Eisner's talkshow on CNBC

Category:1948 births Category:Living people Category:American film actors Category:American impressionists (entertainers) Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish American writers Category:Jewish comedians Category:Mark Twain Prize recipients Category:Marshall Thundering Herd baseball players Category:New York University alumni Category:People from Long Beach, New York Category:American Jews Category:GLAAD Media Awards winners

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: ''For other uses of the title The Grid, see Grid (disambiguation).''

name	The Grid
background	group_or_band
origin	England
genre	HouseTechnoAmbient house
years active	1988–19962003–present
label	East West, Virgin, Deconstruction, Some Bizzare
associated acts	Soft Cell, Chris Braide
current members	Richard NorrisDavid Ball
notable instruments	}}

The Grid are an English electronic dance group, consisting of Richard Norris and David Ball (formerly of Soft Cell), The lead single from this album, "Swamp Thing", featuring elaborate banjo lines played by Roger Dinsdale. "Swamp Thing" proved to be a commercial success in the UK, Europe and Australia, reaching #3 in the UK || align="center"| 14 || Deconstruction Records |- | 1995 || ''Music for Dancing'' || align="center"| 67 || Deconstruction Records |- | 2008 || ''Doppelgänger'' || align="center"| - || Some Bizzare Records |}

Singles

"Floatation (song) "Swamp Thing (The Grid song)

Year !! Single !! UK Singles Chart
1989	"On the Grid" (promo only)	-
1989	Intergalactica" (promo only) >
1990	Floatation" |	60
1990	A Beat Called Love" >
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1993
1993	Swamp Thing" |	3
1994
1994
1995
2006
2007

References

External links

Grid Central - An Unofficial Page for The Grid

Death of Roger Dinsdale.

[ The Grid on allmusic.com]

The Grid MySpace page

Category:English dance music groups Category:English electronic music groups Category:English house music groups Category:British techno music groups Category:Remixers Category:Electronic music duos

de:The Grid pl:The Grid ru:The Grid sv:The Grid

birth date	August 11, 1965
birth place	St. Matthews, South Carolina, United States
occupation	Actress
yearsactive	1996–present
spouse	Julius Tennon (2003–present) }}

Viola Davis (born August 11, 1965) is an American actress. Known primarily as a stage actress, Davis won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play and a Drama Desk Award for her role in ''King Hedley II'' (2001). She won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role in the 2010 production of ''Fences''. She won a second Drama Desk Award for ''Intimate Apparel'' (2004).

Her films include ''Traffic'' (2000), ''Antwone Fisher'' (2002), and ''Solaris'' (2002). Her eight-minute-long performance in the film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's ''Doubt'' (2008) garnered several honors, including a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Early life

Davis was born on her grandmother's farm in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Her mother, Mary, was a maid and factory worker, and her father, Dan Davis, was a horse trainer. Her family moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island when she was two months old.

Davis credits in part her involvement in the arts at her Alma mater, Central Falls High School, for her love of stage acting. Davis majored in theatre at Rhode Island College, graduating in 1988; in 2002 she received an honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the college. She was involved in the federal TRIO Upward Bound and TRIO Student Support Services programs. While Davis was a teenager, her talent was recognized by Bernard Masterson when, as director of Young People's School for the Performing Arts in Rhode Island, he awarded Davis a scholarship into that program.

She also attended the Juilliard School for four years, characterizing the experience as a "hot mess".

Career

In 2001, she was awarded the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Tonya in ''King Hedley II'', a "35-year-old mother fighting eloquently for the right to abort a pregnancy." She has also received two Drama Desk Awards, for her work in ''King Hedley II'' and, in 2004, for her work in an off-Broadway production of ''Intimate Apparel'' by Lynn Nottage.

Davis appears in numerous films, including three films directed by Steven Soderbergh - ''Out of Sight'', ''Solaris'' and ''Traffic'', as well as ''Syriana'', which Soderbergh produced. Viola is also the uncredited voice of the parole board interrogator who questions Danny Ocean (George Clooney) in the first scene in ''Ocean's Eleven''. She also gave brief performances in the films ''Kate & Leopold'' and ''Antwone Fisher''. Her television work includes a recurring role in ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''; a starring role in the short-lived ''Traveler''; and a special guest appearance in "Badge", a ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' episode.

In 2008, Davis played Mrs. Miller in the film adaption to the Broadway play, ''Doubt'' with Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams. She was nominated for several awards for this performance, including a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

On June 30, 2009, Davis was inducted into The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On June 13, 2010, Davis won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for her role as Rose Maxson in a revival of August Wilson's ''Fences''. She is the second African-American woman to win the award, after Phylicia Rashād.

Davis played the role of Dr. Minerva in ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', a coming-of-age film written and directed by Anna Boden with Ryan Fleck, adapted from the 2006 novel by Ned Vizzini.

In August 2011, Davis joined Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas Howard in DreamWorks' production of ''The Help'', in which she played the stalwart domestic, "Aibileen Clark." The film was directed by Tate Taylor, and produced by Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, and Mark Radcliffe. Her role has garnered her critical acclaim, and has started buzz for various awards nominations.

Personal life

Davis has been married to actor Julius Tennon since June 2003. They have two children from Tennon's previous relationships.

Filmography

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	''''	Nurse
1998	''Out of Sight''	Moselle
2000		Social Worker
2001	''''	Robin
2001	''Kate & Leopold''	Policewoman
2002	''Far from Heaven''	Sybil
2002		Eva May	Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female
2002		Gordon
2005		Grandma
2005	''Syriana''	CIA Chairwoman	uncredited
2006	''''	Tonya Neely
2006		Mother in hospital
2007		Detective Parker
2008		Jean
2008		Mrs. Miller
2009		Ellen
2009		Dr. Judith Franklin
2009	''Law Abiding Citizen''	Mayor April Henry
2010	''Knight & Day''	Director George
2010	''Eat Pray Love''	Delia
2010		Dr. Minerva
2010	''Trust''	Gail Friedman
2011		Aibileen Clark
2011

Television

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	''NYPD Blue''	Woman	Episode: "Moby Greg"
1996	''New York Undercover''	Mrs. Stapleton	Episode: "Smack is Back"
1998	''''	Platoon Sgt. Fanning
1998	''Grace & Glorie''	Rosemary Allbright
2000	''Judging Amy''	Celeste	Episode: "Blast from the Past"
2000		Nurse Lynnette Peeler	19 episodes
2001	''Amy & Isabelle''	Dottie
2001		Dr. Eleanor Weiss	Episode: "You Can Count On Me"
2001	''''		Episode: "The Men from the Boys"
2001	''Third Watch''	Margo Rodriguez	Episode: "Act Brave"
2002	''Father Lefty''
2002	''Law & Order: Criminal Intent''	Terry Randolph	Episode: "Badge"
2002	''''	Dr. Georgia Davis	Episode: "Remembrance"
2002	''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''	Attorney Campbell	Episode: "The Execution of Catherine Willows"
2003		Stevie Morgan	Episode: "Third Strike"
2003	''''	Aisha Crenshaw	Episode: "We the People"
2004		Hannah Crane	9 episodes
2005		Molly Crane
2005		Victoria Rossi	Episode: "Shock"
2006		Molly Crane
2006		Molly Crane
2006	''Without a Trace''	Audrey Williams	Episode: "White Balance"
2006	''Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story''	Diane Barrino
2007	''Fort Pit''
2007	''Jesse Stone: Sea Change''	Molly Crane
2007		Agent Jan Marlow	8 episodes
2008		Ellen Snyder	Episode: "Double Negative"
2008	''''	Dr. Charlene Barton
2003–08	''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit''	Donna Emmett	7 episodes from 2003 until 2008
2009	''United States of Tara''	Lynda P Frazier

Theatre Credits

! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1996	Seven Guitars	Vera	BroadwayMar 28, 1996 - Sep 8, 1996Theatre World AwardNominated - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayNominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
1997	God's Heart	Eleanor	Off Broadway
1998		2nd Fisherman/Lychorida/Bawd	Off Broadway
	Everybody's Ruby	Ruby McCollum	Off Broadway Nominated - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
The Vagina Monologues	Performer (Replacement)	Off Broadway
2001	King Hedley II	Tonya	Broadway May 1, 2001 - Jul 1, 2001Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play
2004	Intimate Apparel	Esther	Off Broadway Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play
2010		Rose	Broadway Revival Apr 26, 2010 - Jul 11, 2010Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a PlayTony Award for Best Actress in a Play

References

External links

Category:1965 births Category:Actors from South Carolina Category:African American film actors Category:African American stage actors Category:African American television actors Category:Drama Desk Award winners Category:Living people Category:Rhode Island College alumni Category:Tony Award winners

cy:Viola Davis de:Viola Davis es:Viola Davis fr:Viola Davis id:Viola Davis it:Viola Davis he:ויולה דיוויס nl:Viola Davis ja:ヴィオラ・デイヴィス pl:Viola Davis pt:Viola Davis ru:Дэвис, Виола sv:Viola Davis tl:Viola Davis th:วิโอลา เดวิส